Arrow Whispers - Frustration Tolerance

I think there's hardly a topic in archery that's as widespread as it is misunderstood. It's about the frustration and anger that can build up when we fail to achieve our goals. When you mix that with a dose of self-doubt and fear, you have the perfect mix for a period of stagnation. But what would the alternative be?

Anger and similar emotions make us feel constricted, like we can't move forward. Striving for a way out, we desperately search for an object, a person, or a circumstance on which to release these emotions, which we could blame for the situation. In some cases, even ourselves. It's an impulse that causes us to lose control, and thus we feel controlled and powerless to make our own decisions. It's no wonder, then, that we yearn for control in such a situation. It's incredibly uncomfortable for us to show this side of ourselves in front of our fellow Sagittarians. But can naturally occurring emotions really be the problem, or is it more of a symptom? If we feel an unpleasant constriction, balancing it out would be more foresighted, making more room for it. And if we try to hold on to our position with all our might, letting go would bring us back to our center. I think we know deep down that controlling our emotions can never be the answer to our problems, yet unfortunately, as a society, we still very often try to do just that. It would be much more sensible to use it as our compass to find balance within ourselves. Couldn't it be that an uncontrolled outburst of anger is the result of constant control, or rather, holding back, or some kind of holding on to our inner world? A natural release so that it doesn't make us sick? Of course, we can't just let everything run its course, but if controlling it isn't the answer, then couldn't it be understanding ourselves that shows us the path to true balance? Even though a term like "frustration tolerance" certainly has its place in personal development, I still think it's time to replace it with a different, more useful one, something like "response flexibility." The former seems to focus on how well a person is trained to endure something emotionally and less on exploring new avenues. For us archers, the way we practice our sport is also our mirror. And those who stagnate emotionally also stagnate with bow and arrow.

In this spirit, let us tread new paths. Paths in which we learn together to face our shadows with courage. Paths in which we encourage one another to interpret our emotions and then achieve balance. And paths in which we center ourselves so that our arrow, too, only knows the center.

Bettina Platzer is a great nature lover. She is also very interested in the connections in life. She loves being able to see things from new perspectives in order to make sense of them.

Contribution by: Bettina Platzer