Stay Alive All Your Life - Part 3

Chapter 3 Conquer Your Frustrations and be Creative

The author says peaceful thinking brings you to a state that no amount of frustration can ascend. People react differently to different frustrations. Some things that bother me like crazy wouldn’t bother someone else at all. Some people get through big catastrophes with perfect calmness and fly off handle when their spouse doesn’t put the lid on the toothpaste.

Dr. Peale says we need to do the best we can at everything, affirm we are doing our best and then do nothing further! He says think of Paul’s comment in Ephesians 6:13, “and having done it all…stand.” When you’ve done everything you can – stop and let the matter rest. Leave it to God and let Him handle it from there.

Next he says to think peaceful thoughts anytime you start to feel frustrated. Even just ”God is giving me peace.” If someone drives you crazy, but you’re stuck with them in your life – practice thinking kind thoughts about them. Say nice things about them. Try to understand where they’re coming from. Pray for them.

Being in a constant state of frustration, angst and negative thoughts can affect you physically. Paul tells us to think good thoughts. Ephesians 4:26 tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger. The Bible also tells us to seek God first, to focus on Jesus. All of that’s because it’s good for us.

Dr. John A Schindler, wrote in his book ‘How to Live 365 Days a Year’ “Good emotions make us well – bad emotions make us ill.” Anger raises your blood pressure! Stress causes all kinds of illness.

You have to desire emotional control. A lot of people get satisfaction in flying off the handle, even though the consequences can be bad. So first you have to want to be able to control yourself. If you want it, you can have it. In order to get ahead at a job or volunteer position or have great relationships, you have to control your emotions. Not snap back with a sharp retort or mean comeback. These people can’t get along with others and they don’t do well in life.

You may think people give you a break because you’re “sensitive” – or get angry fast, but get over it quickly and that they love you anyway – but in reality they’ll never be as close to you as they could have been.

God can change anyone who admits defeat and comes to Him. He gives us patience – a gift of the Spirit. He always gives us what we need, but it’s up to us to learn to use the gifts.

The human mind is capable of blocking out frustration. But it’s not easy. It takes discipline. Prayer is a chief aid in the blocking out process.