“Life is full of moments of frustration and disappointment. Growth and maturity is learning to pull yourself out of a bad state faster.”

Image from Unsplash by Sophia Kunkel

Life is not defined by how rarely you get frustrated, but how quickly you refuse to stay there.

Today’s quote reminds us to own our reactions instead of worshiping our excuses.

It means noticing when we are spiraling and choose interruption over indulgence.

Break the pattern: move your body, change your environment, question the story you are telling yourself.

The goal is not to never fall, but to shorten the time between the fall and the rise.

Your future is quietly being decided in that gap.

EXERCISE:

When you feel the spike of disappointment, silently label it: “This is frustration, not failure.”

This creates a small gap between you and the emotion, which calms your nervous system and reduces the urge to lash out or shut down.

“We must all suffer one of two things: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.”

—Jim Rohn, late American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

Who hasn’t heard the expression, No pain, No gain?

Regarding the things we must suffer, discipline seems like the wise choice.

Where in your life — or in your observations of others — has good old hard work proven successful in the achievement of a worthy goal?

Embrace and celebrate the pride and satisfaction associated with the grit it took to prove you had the right stuff.

Alternatively, where have you and others taken the easy way out and skated by with only minimal effort?

How much regret and disappointment lingers even now for not giving things your all?

EXERCISE:

Where in your life can and will you embrace the pain associated with discipline to realize far more of your fullest potential?

The Quotable Coach