How to Deal with Disappointment

Disappointment is inevitable; there are just too many things going on in our lives to not have something or someone disappoint us. There are certainly degrees of disappointment; they come in all sizes, but it’s the big ones I want to address today. People, associates, companies, teachers, bosses, teammates, classmates, spiritual leaders, politicians, spouses, brothers, sisters, Moms, and Dads are all on the list of potential disappointers.

I am writing this because I just had a big disappointment occur. It’s not important what happened. What is important is how I will deal with it. Disappointment can lead to frustration, anger, and even bitterness; these are all emotions that will sap the excitement, energy, and vitality right out of you. Over the years, I have learned that dwelling on a disappointment won’t make it any better, make it go away, or ease the fact that it happened. But occasionally, I still catch myself dwelling on it.

I have no intention of letting anyone or anything keep me down long. That doesn’t mean I won’t feel the pain, anger, frustration, or hurt at the moment it occurred. But it does mean I won’t keep feeling it. If certain people keep letting you down, then avoid them. The same is true for companies whose products or services fail to meet your expectations; avoid them, too. Thomas Jefferson once said, “If I am to meet with a disappointment, the sooner I know it, the more of life I shall have to wear it off.”  Disappointments don’t just vanish, but as Jefferson noted, they will wear off if you let them go.

Dwelling on disappointment takes time and energy away from you, which you could be using somewhere else. By dwelling on it, you are actually making it worse. If someone did it on purpose, dwelling on it is allowing them to win even more. I had a football coach once tell me that when I got tackled really hard to Get-up off the ground fast, like I was totally unaffected. He said it will rattle your opponent. He said your opponent, who just delivered the painful blow, is thinking they crushed you, hurt you, and beat you. By getting up fast, as if nothing happened, they will start thinking otherwise. If I can share anything with you today that will help you better handle disappointment, it would be summed up in having the following reaction.

When a disappointment knocks you down …

Get up fast!  Get over it!  Let it go! Move on!

I heard it once stated, “Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.” What an incredible way to look at it. The key words there are, Noble Soul. The level of success in your life comes from the choices you make. When it comes to dealing with disappointment, be the Noble Soul and MOVE ON!