Okay, so, I don’t know if this resonates with all of you (I mean, I hope it does), but these past few months have felt intense. Can you relate? I’m not sure if there’s something happening in the cosmos, on this planet, or just in my small life sphere, but boy have I felt tested in so many areas as of late.

When cultivating self-care and mindfulness practices, the thing that we must remember is that we don’t do them so that we can have a perfect, fricton-free life, but we practice them so that we can manage the friction, frustration, and discomfort that ultimately will come at some point during our lives.

Though I will admit that there have been times that I haven’t managed my emotions and my frustrations as gracefully as I would hope, I will always strive to cultivate the awareness within myself to notice when I’ve slid off track and bring myself back again.

I also strongly, heavily rely on a few simple tools to calm my nerves, release my stress, and bring me back to a sense of peace.

If you’re anything me and you’ve found yourself in a season of frustration, or you know that such is life, and those moments will come, I hope you’ll find benefit from these tools below, we all deserve some peace when life deals us a crummy hand.

Mix it Up: I find that when I’m feeling frustrated, it’s generally a signal that there’s some stagnation in my life. The best way to bust through stagnant energy is to take a new action. Try something new. Change your scenery. Move your body. Do whatever you can do to take yourself from your current state of agitation into a place of peace. Lately, for me, this has been running, which is shocking to me because I have never, ever, been a runner. It’s been working wonders for me, and I’ll write more about that another time!

Take Five: Usually frustration stems from being too busy and feeling too, when this is the case, I always find relief by taking a break and sitting in silence. Meditation truly is a cure-all, in my opinion, but especially in circumstances such as these. When you start to feel that frustrating feeling, excuse yourself, whoever you are, and take a moment to sit with yourself and remember that you have the power to create peace in any situation.

Stay Focused: Another culprit of frustration is feeling scattered and having scattered energy. Whenever I slip into multitasking, I truly feel completely out of sorts. I make mistakes, I run late, I’m forgetful, and that leads to all those agitating feelings. When I remember to do one thing at a time, and be present to whatever is in front of me, I remember my power and I find my peace.

Say No: People pleasing is a big source of frustration for me. When I spread myself too thin, and say yes to things that I really wish I said no to, I get super irritable. The beauty of this is that it truly is okay to say no to situations and circumstances that don’t feel aligned with your well-being and your highest good. You can say no to the party or the dinner or the social gathering, if it means that you say yes to yourself and your sense of peace.

Get Clear: Lately, a massive source of frustration has been a feeling of confusion. When I don’t have a sense of clarity, I feel completely upside down. I crave clarity, and so, when I find myself feeling frustrated I’ll ask myself the important questions to see where I can under answers, desires, and clarity that will bring me back to alignment.

Breathe: When all else fails, remember to breathe. If you don’t have the time, effort, or awareness to take part in the tips above, remember that taking a nice deep breath, anywhere, at anytime, can help relieve a tense situation. A deep breath can shift your energy, release your stress, give you pause and help you to find that space where you can take the next right action. When in doubt, breathe it out.

Wow, I feel better already! How about you? What are some of your go-to’s when managing frustration and irritability?

xo, Michelle

Michelle Maros is Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life's Creative Director and resident writer. She has a degree in Journalism from Indiana University and is also a certified holistic health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and registered yoga teacher with trainings with Anuttara Yoga Shala and Strala Yoga. Michelle has a deep desire to help people find happiness in all areas of their lives, and truly believes the Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life movement will bring lasting change to the world. Michelle splits her time between Florida and New York City and loves connecting with people from all over the world. If you'd like to contact her, she can be reached at 

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