>> Why We Have This Emotion
Disappointment helps us update our expectations when they go unmet. At times it guides us to refine our goals and adjust our strategies for next time. It can also prompt us to disengage and conserve our efforts.
◎ What to do in the moment
Good Ideas
- Let yourself feel disappointed
- Name what you were hoping for
- “What was inside my control here?”
- Appreciate partial wins or progress
- Salvage one learning for the future
- Plan a comforting activity for today
- Separate outcome from self-worth
Bad Ideas
- Globalize one miss to your identity
- Lash out at others in angry blame
- Pretend you don't care anymore
- Ruminate for hours on “what ifs”
- Make impulsive changes out of spite
- Swear off future hope to avoid hurt
- Cling to impossible expectations