4 Tips to Deal with Frustrating People
We all have frustrating people in our lives. Use these tips to deal with them.
Dealing with Frustrating People
“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.” ~ Saint Francis De Sales
Every day there are plenty of good reasons to be frustrated. Another long line. Telemarketers. A goal isn’t materializing “fast enough.” Frustrating people don’t do what they’re supposed to. Rejection. Disappointment. How to deal with it all? You can drive yourself crazy, behave irritably, feel victimized, or try to force an outcome–all self-defeating reactions that alienate others and bring out the worst in them. Or, you can learn to transform your frustration with patience.
As a psychiatrist, I help others see that patience doesn’t mean passivity or resignation, but power. It’s an emotionally freeing practice of waiting, watching, and knowing when to act. To many people, when you say, “Have patience,” it feels unreasonable and inhibiting, an unfair stalling of goals. In contrast, I’m presenting patience as a form of compassion, a way to regain your center in a world filled with frustration. In “Emotional Freedom,” I discuss how to transform frustration with patience. To tame frustration, begin by evaluating its present role in your life, how much it limits your capacity to be happy. The following quiz will let you know where you are now so you can grow freer by developing patience.
Frustrating People Quiz: How Frustrated Am I?
To determine your success at coping with this emotion, ask yourself:
* Am I often frustrated and irritable?
* Do I typically respond to frustration by snapping at or blaming others?
* Do I self-medicate letdowns with junk food, drugs or alcohol?
* Do my reactions hurt other people’s feelings?
* When the frustration has passed, do I usually feel misunderstood?
* During a hard day at work, do I tend to lose my cool?
* When I’m disappointed, do I often feel unworthy or like giving up?
Answering “yes” to 5-7 questions indicates an extremely high level of frustration. 3-5 “yeses” indicates a high level. 2 “yeses” indicates a moderate level. 1 “yes” indicates a low level. Zero “yeses” suggests you’re dealing successfully with this emotion.
Even if your frustrations are off the charts, patience is the cure. In today’s world there are plenty of opportunities to cultivate this invaluable skill. Life teaches patience if you let it.
4 Ways to Communicate with Patience to Frustrating People
When someone frustrates you, always take a breath first before you react. Decide if you want to talk now or wait to calm down. If you’re highly reactive and upset, have the discussion later when you’re calmer then you’ll be more persuasive and less threatening. At that time use this approach:
Frustrating People Tip #1. Focus on a specific issue–don’t escalate or mount a personal attack. For instance, “I feel frustrated when you promise to do something but there isn’t follow-through.” No resorting to threats or insults. In an even, non-blaming tone, lead with how the behavior makes you feel rather than how you think the other person is wrong.
Frustrating People Tip #2. Listen non-defensively without reacting or interrupting. It’s a sign of respect to hear a person’s point of view, even if you disagree. Avoid an aggressive tone or body language. Try not to squirm with discomfort or to judge.
Frustrating People Tip #3. Intuit the feelings behind the words When you can appreciate someone’s motivation, it’s easier to be patient. Try to sense if this person is frightened, insecure, up against a negative part of themselves they’ve never confronted. If so, realize this can be painful. See what change they’re open to.
Frustrating People Tip #4. Respond with clarity and compassion this attitude takes others off the defensive so they’re more comfortable admitting their part in causing frustration. Describe everything in terms of remedies to a specific task, rather than generalizing. State your needs. For instance, “I’d really appreciate you not shouting at me even if I disappoint you.” If the person is willing to try, show how pleased you are. Validate their efforts: “Thanks for not yelling at me. I really value your understanding.” See if the behavior improves. If not, you may have to minimize contact and/or expectations.
In communication, patience is a powerful emotional currency. As you’re more able to tolerate the discomfort of frustration and not blow it by acting out, your relationships will function on a higher level. In any interchange, always define what you’re after. Is it to resolve a specific frustrating behavior? To say “no” to participating in a dead-end pattern? Or is it to simply convey your feelings without expectation of change? Even if the frustration is irresolvable, patience sets the right tone to treat frustrating people and yourself respectfully.
You may also enjoy 5 Ways to Know if You Are an Empathetic or Sympathetic Person
Click HERE to Connect with your Daily Horoscope!
About the Author
Judith Orloff, MD is the New York Times bestselling author of The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People, upon which this article is based. Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, an empath, and is on the UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty. She synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff also specializes in treating empaths and highly sensitive people in her private practice. She is author of Emotional Freedom, The Power of Surrender, Second Sight, Positive Energy, and Guide to Intuitive Healing. To learn more about empaths and her free empath support newsletter as well as Dr. Orloff’s books and workshop schedule, visit www.drjudithorloff.com.
