How to Overcome Disappointment
I am not going to tell you that overcoming disappointment is simple or easy, because it is not. But neither is it impossible to confront. It is a complex process, but one that can be overcome.
Disappointment is a mixture of pure pain and a feeling of betrayal. Here is a list of useful advice that could help you on those days when the sky seems a little less blue and the night as black as ebony.
Never fall into a state of total distrust
After suffering some disappointment, a new distrust appears in us, one that seems to invade everything that surrounds you, be this people or projects. It is not strange for you to fall into a state of total distrust after some disappointment. Perhaps a betrayal by someone you loved or a letdown about something you had hoped for but which did not happen.
It is perfectly normal to put up a shield in front of our hearts and to distrust everything and everyone so that they cannot hurt us again. In fact, it is not a bad idea in the short term, when the wound is still fresh.
However, a moment will arrive when you will have to let down your guard. You cannot live distrusting everyone and everything forever. It is a serious mistake that will end up making you miss out on many of the beautiful things that the world has to offer.
Mourn for a while and defend yourself with your distrust. But there will come a day when you will have to gather up your courage, tear down your walls, and live a normal life again, without fear of letting yourself be carried away by hope, dreams, and good people.
“What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?”
-George Eliot-
Look for support
To overcome disappointment, there is nothing like looking for support. We all have good friends, family, and people that trust us and who are deserving of our love and affection.
In the bad times, when you feel betrayed and inconsolable, the best thing is to look for a friendly shoulder to cry and lay our troubles on. Let go of everything that has hurt you and do not be afraid to appear weak or defenseless. A person who loves you will never use it against you.
It is really beautiful to enjoy the people that we love and who love us in the good times. But it is also beautiful and calming to know that there are people who will always be there, waiting to help us and lend us a hand when we need something.
Do not forget that getting all the bad things off your chest, sharing your pain, and asking for help to overcome obstacles are not signs of weakness; quite the opposite. Furthermore, two people are stronger than one.
“Distrust is a sign of weakness.”
-Indira Gandhi-
Only mourn where necessary
Once we have suffered disappointment, it is logical for all grounds to seem shaky, even the one that you thought was the most solid, because of the pain, betrayal, and letdown. But this situation should not last forever.
Whether you believe it or not, inside your heart lies the strength and confidence necessary to overcome all kinds of trauma. You must simply know how to seek your strengths and express them to the maximum to find the energy that you need when it is time to move forward.
Never think that a disappointment will last forever. Never tell yourself that you are a weak person, dependent and incapable of moving forward. If you do not find the strength that rests in the depths of your soul, you have not looked enough.
Never forget that mourning over disappointment should not last forever. Maintain constant open-hearted conversations with yourself until you know yourself well enough to figure out which corners of your soul contain the courage and strength that will allow you to look forward with energy and joy.
Do not lose your optimism and sense of humor
It is true that in times of extreme pain, nothing makes you want to joke around. But when it is time to face that disappointment, there is no better weapon than optimism and your sense of humor.
Never stop being a positive, optimistic, and joyful person. Maybe it is difficult at the start, but it is important for you to look for the good side of everything, because it is there, waiting for you to find it so that you can be happy.
Even though disappointment is a difficult process, it is not insurmountable. With the necessary strength, attitude, tools, and positivity, there is nothing that will last forever, no matter how painful it is.