Disappointment is an inevitable part of life. Quite seldom, things really go the way you expect them to. Even then, you would generally like to avoid dealing with it. It puts you in a bad mood, and it kills your inspiration.
It’s tempting to let your disappointments overtake your soul, but you don’t have to! It’s easy to rebound from disappointment and be much happier after that.
Here are 5 ways to recover from disappointment:
- Face the truth.
Ignoring the truth of a bad situation, or not worrying about it at all, makes it harder. Awareness is the first phase in progress. Be prepared to face the issue, but don’t dwell there 24 hours a day. Take your time to recognize what you’re feeling and the right way to react, then focus on something more constructive.
- Allow yourself to mourn.
The difference between how you planned things to work out, and how they actually did, will lead to disappointment and remorse. Mourning is a step towards letting go. Take time to reconnect with your emotions. Writing about your thoughts or talking to a good friend will help you get back on track.
- Be kind to yourself.
If things go wrong, it might not be because you did them wrong. You may not get a job if you’re not the best candidate for the position. The one you’re attracted to maybe love avoidant or already in a relationship. Learn to have a caring approach, not to criticize yourself unfairly, so you’re not caught in regret.
- Look for the silver lining.
What does this situation have to offer? Is there an opportunity to learn valuable skills, change your goals, improve your friendship, or evolve as a person? Try not to see the condition in black-and-white. It’s a bad day, not a bad life.
As Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.“
- Try a different approach.
If what you’re doing isn’t working out, you might have to try something new. You may need to develop your product or service, your marketing plan, or your leadership skills to thrive as an entrepreneur. If you’re not finding the right kind of romantic partner, you might have to try doing new things or going to other destinations. Having what you really want involves going out of your comfort zone and tolerating loss, risk, and ambiguity.
Failure and disappointment are hard to live with. Develop a support group to keep you going as you make important improvements to your attitude or plan. Through persistence, bravery, and self-compassion, you will get back on track and create the life you desire.
