How NOT to Handle Frustration
– Monday Mindset –

Today’s Monday Mindset: How NOT to Handle Frustration

When you’re feeling frustrated with somebody, there are two things you should never do, and I just did both of them.

For a bit of context: If you’ve seen the movie Father of the Bride with Steve Martin, I might be a little like Steve Martin in that movie right now because our son is getting married in our backyard this weekend.

And of course, I want everything to be just perfect, and that’s probably added a little bit of stress for me.

And here’s what took place:

I noticed some mulch, looked like it hadn’t been laid down neatly and properly. It looked a little bit like a sloppy job, and what I shouldn’t have done was I shouldn’t have marched over and immediately had the conversation. Instead, I should have taken my wife Kate’s advice.

She said: just take a breath, just relax. It’s going to be okay.

I should have put into practice the 24 hours to maturity rule, which is: can you wait 24 hours, show enough emotional maturity and restraint to wait, or at least the one hour to maturity rule?

No, I marched over immediately… DON’T do that! Instead, wait, take a breath and you’ll gain perspective.

And then second, seek to understand.

Because what I did was I wanted them to understand me instead of seeking to understand what took place for them.

Had I sought to understand first, I would’ve discovered that they had actually been pulled away from their job to help with another job, which is why it looked the way it was and it wasn’t even complete.

But I failed to seek to understand.

So seek to understand, put into practice the 24 hour rule to maturity.

Do those two things and you’ll handle any frustrating person or situation much better than I just did.

That’s my challenge for you, and that’s your Monday Mindset.