Why is frustration good?

If you find the article’s title intriguing, you’re right. If today you feel frustrated, and maybe you’ve been in that place for a while, that’s actually a good sign—on one condition: you need to clearly define what exactly is frustrating you and for how long you’ve been feeling this way. Once you’ve answered those two questions, congratulations: you’ve just gained clarity, and therefore direction—or rather, the one important direction you need to follow. This direction doesn’t come easily for many of us, but once you clearly know your ‘no more of this,’ you can gain practical clarity and move in the opposite direction. This is evolution.

Think about it: all the frustrated people in human history who reached their maximum potential did so by first being consumed by a certain pain or helplessness about something. There are two categories of people: those who choose to create, invent, and change their own fate—and maybe even the fate of humanity—through what they create; and the second category, those who remain victims. I’m not saying every frustration leads to spectacular leaps for humanity, but on an individual level, frustration can lead to a complete internal shift in perception, understanding, and feeling, which then changes habits, personal life direction, and so on.

Life-transforming moments of frustration can appear when you receive an alarming diagnosis that somehow forces you to change your lifestyle, mentality, or environment. Relationally, it appears when all your relationships start and end in the same unpleasant way, prompting you to reevaluate your values, needs, and direction—ultimately changing the paradigm of your relationships by examining your personal beliefs.

And professionally, it’s clear that many of us have sought to move forward with new qualifications or even a radical career change. What’s certain is that just the thought “I’m frustrated” has the role of waking you up toward a better state of being. It’s another zero point in your life orchestrated by your soul, which can no longer sustain the game of masks and denial you’ve been in. I’m not saying it’s easy, because this process can take time, but you’ll feel relieved once you’re on your path.

As for victims, many remain in the same place, but some eventually find the courage to become themselves at any age when they get tired of the victim role and start being who they really are. We call these major directional changes existential life crises, and they often become very clear after the age of 40. And yes, some of us divorce, completely change careers, become athletes, artists, mentors, get married, move cities or countries, heal “miraculously,” and so on.

I believe this awakening shouldn’t be viewed with fear, but with gratitude that you’ve finally heard your soul’s voice, which has long been telling you that you’ve lost yourself, and that’s why you’ve forgotten how to enjoy life.

So, choose yourself today wholeheartedly, no matter what.