I attended an art therapy workshop demo. The facilitator was trying out a few ideas with me, a friend and a counselor-in-training. The agenda included an art project with crayons and questions concerning our most prominent emotion. I have to say the activity surprised me. Yes my drawing skills have a lot to be desired. But what was surprising was the insight I got.

The feeling I chose was frustration. My little black and blue sketch consisted of a circle with a smiling face and few mountains covered in patterns. Unlike the others in the group, I had no preconceived idea of what frustration looked like. It’s only after studying my perplexing picture that I realized I had drawn the purpose of frustration. Within the confusing scrawls of my drawing, there was a consistent pattern. I saw that the purpose of frustration was to remove the obstacles that impede our path. In doing so, in letting go of how we think things should be instead of what is we’re more able to find the patterns in our own life. There is a purpose to the frustration you’re feeling, but it takes courage to see it.

I’m not the only one feeling frustrated this week. You’ll read how one blogger’s fed up with insurance companies’ disregard and discrimination against mental health coverage. Feeling frustrated yourself? Whether you’re frustrated with your creativity, your inability to turn off your smart phone or overcome challenges, you’ll discover your own way through it with a little insight offered here.

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