Disappointment or hopelessness may be the most uncomfortable emotion. It is the ‘let down’ feeling that you are going to lose something forever. You may feel several negative emotions such as sorrow, anxiety, frustration, and anger. You are sure that you are not going to get what you expected and you feel defeated. What disappointment means is that your expectation was not appropriate for the situation and you need to set and achieve a new goal.
How to deal with disappointment
- Let go of any associated emotions such as sorrow, stress, anxiety or anger. Analyze the situation and see what lessons you can learn from it; take any failure as a feedback. Let go of the unrealistic expectation.
- Set a new realistic, inspiring goal. Plan and take some action immediately.
- Put your faith in God. God may have a better plan than your old one. Move forward to your new goal with fresh energy and certainty.
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- Accept the reality. Life may be disappointing at times, but it will pass.
- How much ever prepared, there is a chance that something may go wrong. So don’t take a failure as a defeat, it is just a feedback. You are going to get a lot more opportunities. Focus on your revised goal.
- The fact that you had a stretched goal means you are risk taking, which is required for life success. To avoid disappointment, living in a comfort zone is not the way to go.
- Get new perspectives by reflecting, talking to people or researching.
- Having close friends helps to reduce the impact of any misfortunes.
- Be an active member of a supportive community (such as church).
- If you are going through a major life transition, you could sign up with a mentor/coach (such as CMentor).
- Have a relook at your life purpose and core values. Commit to develop new skills required to meet your goals.
- Read stories of people who overcame major setbacks; it will inspire you.
- Recall instances of your accomplishments irrespective of the challenges.
- Develop patience. Most people face ‘lag-time’ before achieving their true success. God’s delays are not God’s denials.
- Where are you putting your hope? Your accomplishments, assets, relationships, ..? Those who have sincere faith in God seem to endure any mishap.
- Surrender yourself to God’s plan. Live in a flow. Live a life driven by God’s spirit. Then disappointment is irrelevant, since you are detached from the outcome; every moment you are pleasing God, which is your highest purpose.
Meditate on the Words of God
- We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Romans 5:3-4)
- Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5) - If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? (Romans 8:31-32)
- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
- Always be full of JOY in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Phil. 4:4)
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