Dealing With Disappointment In 3 Easy Steps
We all face disappointment of some kind at different times in our lives
. That is a given. But it is not the event which causes us to be disappointed that is the true issue. It is our reaction to the event that tends to cause us to have the most pain.I'm not saying that we should ignore disappointments, but we shouldn't let them deter us from achieving our goals either.
How do you handle feelings of being let down? Do you get into an argument with your spouse? Do you drink a few beers?
Everyone has some type of coping mechanism that they use to respond to being disappointed.
It is the typical responses listed above that are unhealthy. It is that normal reaction which leads to further frustration that we need to change.
There are 3 steps that you can take to respond to disappointments in a simple, yet healthy way.
1. Recognize what happened and why it is that you feel the way that you feel about it. We experience disappointment because we come to the realization that we did not get what we thought we were going to get when we thought we were going to get it. This feeling normally leads to frustration, anger and resentment. Usually if you can take a few minutes to think about your situation and get clear on why it is that you feel the way the way that you do then that will lead you to the next step.
2. Get perspective. Once you take a step back you can look at the situation from a broader perspective. You are able to gather yourself and calm your emotions. From that vantage point you will have the ability to see exactly what it is that occurred. This in turn leads you to the realization that your present situation isn't as bad as you thought it was.
3. Get back on track. After honestly looking at your situation you can began taking steps to overcome this setback. Either altering your plan some or come up with a new one which takes your setback into account. Overcome your setbacks by learning from failure and continuing to move forward with your plans.
When dealing with disappointment you must do it in a proactive way. Continue to take action after you have done the 3 previously mentioned steps. The worst thing that you can do when pursuing your goals is to just stop and give up.
Keep moving towards what you want by making adjustments as you plow forward. Put discouragement in the rear view mirror as quickly as possible. Keep going forward and you will make disappointment a distant memory.
by: Anthony Carter