Is Frustration a Bad Thing?
According to The New Oxford Dictionary of English, frustration, by definition, means the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something. Since frustration seems to be a negative feeling, some people may be tempted to think that frustration is bad for people. They believe that constant frustration may cause serious mental health problems . People suffering from such psychological problems often resort to violence or suicide, which poses a big threat to the people around them and thus causes instability to the whole society.
However, others hold a different view. They maintain that it is rather beneficial to people. It goes side by side with success. It inspires people to overcome hardships and difficulties and achieve the final success. People with this view even go so far as to say that no frustration, no success. They often cite Thomas Edison as a case in point.
From my perspective, frustration itself can not be regarded as good or bad. It is people’s approach to it that matters a lot. Frustration is part of our life experience. In our process of growing up, we may inevitably experience it when confronted with situations that don’t come up to our expectations. It is a test of our courage when it befalls on us. If we let it control us, we may fall into the abyss of being inflicted by serious psychological problems. But if we harness it and take it as our source of inspiration, we may ultimately enjoy the glory of success. Therefore, it is safe to say that it is improper to view frustration as good or bad and that it is our attitude toward it that makes much difference