Part of life means things won’t always go according to plan. We have aspirations, and we eagerly look forward to certain things, only to be disappointed at the end.
How do we move on and accept disappointment? Whether they stem from putting trust in people, not being accepted at your dream job, or receiving contrasting results than you expected from a new routine you decided to try out.
Integrative psychotherapist, Amy Baglietto, shared with Happiful ways to bounce back from disappointment. Happiful is an online magazine that focuses on health and well-being. Here are some of the recommendations Amy shared:
Be kind to yourself
Amy begins by highlighting the need to practice self-compassion after experiencing setbacks. She says that when disappointed, people tend to be very hard on themselves, believing that they are to blame for the result or that they are not good enough. However, she states that people need to understand that disappointment is an inevitable part of life and does not determine a person’s worth or abilities. Amy further explains that self-compassion involves being nice and compassionate to ourselves, admitting our feelings, and accepting setbacks as natural. It offers consolation and encouragement for getting well and moving on.
Make the disappointment a lesson
The psychotherapist states that it could be beneficial to reflect on the disappointment and figure out what you could have done differently. Therefore, if you applied for a job and didn’t get it, to improve for the next time, you might ask for comments on your application.”Embracing a growth mindset in the face of disappointment allows us to see it as a stepping stone towards success rather than a roadblock. Through this perspective, we can not only bounce back from disappointment but also use it to propel ourselves towards future achievements and breakthroughs.”
Be mindful
Amy recommends practising mindfulness as a way to manage these challenging emotions. She says, “Being fully present in the moment and accepting the reality of the present without judgment is the essence of mindfulness.” Happiful states that being mindful encourages people to notice their thoughts and feelings without trying to alter them, which helps people become more self-aware and accepting of who they are.
Seek reality, not fantasy.
Humans are naturally dreamers and hopeful. It’s beneficial to do this. But Better Help, an online mental health platform suggests that it’s quite simple to feel disappointed when illusion blends into reality. The publication then suggests that writing in a journal and reflecting on can help someone to be able to discern what is genuine. Jot down facts and their implications for your life and be realistic about how the results will be because high expectations that could have been prevented lead to high disappointment.
Also see: Unusual self-care ideas to try
