I’m not going to get annoyed. I’m just going to get it done.

How many times a day, a week, a year do we become irritated by someone, something or even nothing? Something is late, dishes not unpacked, a rude gesture, an impatient customer. They are all annoying right? Or are they?

Is it that we become annoyed and hold on to that emotion? I get that things can be frustrating, but do we HAVE to be frustrated?

I’ve been looking at my emotional reactions a lot lately. Rather than becoming them. It looks like noticing I am frustrated instead of becoming frustrated. It’s a subtle yet powerful difference. And I’ve noticed that when I become my emotions how it increases my anxiety, and fuels so many other emotions from there.

In Steven Pressfield’s legendary super small and super powerful book; The War of Art, he talks about how resistance is the silent killer. When we push against – we create more tension. Push against people, ideas and even our emotions.?

Now it doesn’t mean we ignore them. We notice them. Finding out why it triggers us would also be useful. So would getting on with it too.

This might be getting on with doing the work, going to the event or even having the conversation. It means we move forward noticing the irritation – not becoming it. So next time I get annoyed I will see that emotion and not let it consume me. And then just get on with things.?

Unless of course you are babysitting a puppy who poos and wees everywhere and then eats your new kitten’s poo. Then it is requires a stronger focus. Speaking from experience.

I’m passionate about helping businesses and teams learn how to create a feedback culture in our new (and sometimes daunting) post-covid, hybrid workplaces. Shoot me a note if you want to talk.