August Thoughts

Is anyone else feeling the weight of expectations that haven't exactly worked as planned?

There are times when life gives us what we need but not necessarily what we wanted or planned. This alternative to what we envisioned can lead to disappointment, and it’s difficult to not dwell on that feeling of loss. Disappointment can creep in slowly or hit all at once. But regardless of at what velocity it arrives, it can become overwhelming.

We hold high expectations that something will work out in a certain way and feel out of control when the situation turns out less than satisfactory. Most people tend to wallow in their disappointments which leads to self-doubt, despondency, discouragement, and even depression.

We can easily get caught up in a negative cycle of disappointment. These thoughts become internal dialogue on repeat. Do you ever tell yourself that “I’m just not good enough," "nothing ever works out,” “this always happens to me”?

But disappointment can be an incredibly powerful emotion that can help you clarify your personal expectations and pave the way to meeting your goals. You may have been focused on a goal that did not align with your truth, or was short-sighted and did not support your long-term goals.

In your moment of disappointment, you have the opportunity to be present and reassess with new awareness. Realigning your goals and setting a different path or pace might have you meeting your goals or finding contentment. As cliche as it sounds, everything happens for a reason, and the best you can do is trust the opportunity the situation gives you and make lemonade out of those lemons.

With Gratitude,
Elease