Dealing with Disappointment

Disappointment sucks ass. No matter the magnitude of what happened, feeling disappointed is never an easy feeling. Learning how to acknowledge it and validate it is one thing, but coping and recovering from it is a whole different ball game.

Letting that feeling of disappointment marinate within you is not the right way to deal with those overpowering emotions. We at The Edge believe that understanding that disappointment and validating it is the first step to overcoming it. Validating our emotions means accepting that they are present and remembering that it is perfectly acceptable to have those feelings. We are human. 

Whether it’s disappointment or anger, you need to feel it and let it out. The point is to regulate your emotions by feeling whatever you’re feeling and allowing it to pass. According to Psychology Today, research has shown that emotional suppression can hinder our personal growth. Without the ability to feel emotions and actively express them, you have trouble adapting to new and unfamiliar situations. 

Perhaps you may have your expectations set too high. Checking your expectations and adjusting them to reflect reality is crucial. It is human nature to hope and dream; it's healthy to do so. However, when reality becomes mixed with illusion, it is very easy to feel disappointed. Lowering your expectations doesn’t mean you’re a pessimist; it means you’re honest and realistic, and that is such an incredible quality to have. We praise people who embody such qualities of honesty and realism because it showcases their courage. In literature, realism refers to the notion that authors represent reality by portraying mundane, everyday experiences as they are in real life. Literary realism displays the consequences of setting your expectations too high. If an expectation is not inflexible or doesn’t line up with reality, it’s a recipe for disappointment. 

Unfortunately, dealing with disappointment is a part of life, but it’s only temporary. Focusing your time and energy on something else meaningful to you helps lessen the intensity of the feeling of disappointment. Distracting yourself can be an extremely helpful coping strategy to get through it. Distractions can be very positive and resourceful tools to effectively recover. The worst thing you can do is brood over negative experiences. 

Feeling disappointed is not necessarily an issue to be concerned about. The inability to deal with the emotion and to let go of the pain can become an issue, though. Dealing with disappointment takes a conscious effort, but The Edge team believes in you. You can and you will overcome this. Validate your feelings and express your emotions. Feel free to thank us later.