Just a few months ago I found myself in a place completely overcome with frustration. I was unable to function, my thoughts were completely irrational, and I was about as far from being my authentic self as possible.
I reached out to my Facebook friends and asked them the question within a status update:
“What are some of the things (activities or exercises) you engage in to help alleviate your frustrations with a particular situation?” You can also see the actual thread here.
The response was tremendous – all sorts of things were suggested! Everyone had something different to say, which I think goes to show how different things will work for different people. Try some of them on for size 
Here are ALL the suggestions made (Many thanks to all of you who gave me your input!)
Theresa Robinson – “A vigorous workout on the elliptical for the exercise side of it… and as for activities, drawing or photography. They center me.”
Brandon Houston – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQlIhraqL7o&feature=fvw
Kyle Taylor – “Shovelin snow”
Karin Sevensma-vogels – “Listen to good music…talking about it….have a nice glass of beer/wine looking at a movie that touches the emotion that created the frustration, when released things get more clear……”
Andreas Griesshammer – “Nothing appropriate to mention on Facebook”
Courtney Sullivan – “Sudoku.”
Devante Dureese - “I tend to hit the boxing gym.”
Jessica Metheny - “Kicking people.”
Shala Huslig – “Read a book, being in another world helps me to forget about all the stress I’m dealing with. Of course sometimes it comes back afterwards but it’s a nice escape for the time being.”
Kelly Villatoro – “Cabernet”
RevShar Schwengler – “Breathing, walking, meditation. ”
Nancy Arient – “Yoga”
Sara Capra – “Sing, dance around my room, go jogging, do something nice for someone or just drink!”
Sandy DeBoice – “Abraham Hicks all the way!”
Jordan Molotsky – “Meditation and dancing baby! ”
Kristie Kajer – “Process through to Truth – I acknowledge the problem, look at it logically, check within to see what’s happening there, decide what course of action needs to be taken, and run my actions/decisions, etc. through the grid of Scripture. Then make changes where changes need to be made.”
Joshua Bevan – “Self medication”
Billy Alley – “If there is an emotion involved that you don’t want, I read in a book by Joe Vitale, The Key, to just feel the entire emotion all over and just allow it to get really strong, be aware of its complete presence in your body, and it will tend to just neutralize itself. Hope that makes sense! Oh yeah, and then if it’s somebody messing with me, I’ll just kick their butt.”
Lorri Ratzlaff – “Totally meditation – I STOP myself and DECIDE how I’m going to react, then I focus on all the good things in my life and not the current frustration that is likely only going to last a few moments anyway. Then I just stay in that place of gratitude for a while and “vwalah” things are MUCH better!!!”
Marcelle Allen – “Long walks on the beach, long phone calls or long car rides.”
Nancy Duwane - “Cosmopolitans are yummy”
Mary Sicre – “Play old classic disco songs – LOUD – and dance around the house…. grab a hairbrush and sing along into it… then slide into the kitchen to pour myself some wine with a big smile on my face!”
Donna Thomas – “Journaling and a long walk”
Samantha Kerik – “Dance. Sing sometimes. I use to sing alot when I was a kid and Scream! Scream so loud my lungs hurt. Often all these exercises are done alone. LOL”
Deborah Gonzalez Canada – “Walking if I have to think. Dancing if I want to stop thinking. Salsa if I need energy. Jazz if I need to calm down. Finally, nothing like horseback riding in the middle of the mountains to make me feel balanced.”
George Ira Carroll – “Understanding what’s important to me in the context and shifting things to meet that value…”
Marshall Wayne – “Reading, running, other exercise, sometimes drinking, ahem…masturbating helps, yelling at the computer, watching movies…”
Emily Stoik – “Working out really helps me to relieve stress and tension! ”
DJ Mason – “Working out at the gym helps both the body and the mind . The days I miss going to the gym I feel like I am missing something . And before sept. of 2009 I was a couch potato. All my stress goes away when I step into the gym!”
Angela Rodriguez – “Sex always helps relieve frustrations.”
Kimberley DeZutel – “Yoga (of course) Think of frustrations and problems as “Lila” (sanscrit word meaning for the joy or fun of it). Without obstacles life would be boring. Through this frustration you’ll learn more about yourself. If there’s a lesson, then try to understand it. ”
How’s that for some pretty good stuff? I think that pretty much covers everything from A-Z – but of course I’m curious… is there anything you’d like to add that didn’t make this list? Leave your comments below!
