Start To Turn Your Disappointments Into Moments Of Appreciation
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Start To Turn Your Disappointments Into Moments Of Appreciation

Get through what you go through.

278
Start To Turn Your Disappointments Into Moments Of Appreciation
Every Pixel

Expectations are a funny thing and drive me completely insane. They are filled with hope and validation and reassurance that you matter and the work you do matters. If you are anything like I am, I cling to expectations. I desire to be reassured at every step in my life. I want to know that the journey I am on is the right path and that my friends care about me. If I work very hard on an assignment I expect to get the validation that I did my best and if I put my all in a friendship I expect reciprocation. This exact notion of assurance is what causes my beating hard to ache because nine times out of ten they are not met.

I tend to expect a lot from the people I surround myself with and the work I put all my effort in. There have been many times in my life where I have questioned if the glue of expectations stuck to my mind is a good thing or bad thing.

As I sit here and contemplate this thought, I get even more perplexed. I have been taught by my parents that I deserve nothing but the best and that I should focus my energy on things that reward me with happiness. However, my fingers then attract to the magnet social media has become and finds the quote, “ Expectations lead to disappointments” and derives a sense of truth in those words too.

Wouldn’t it be so much easier if I just accepted every action done to me and have my bar set low? Wouldn’t I hurt less if I lowered my self-worth and lose hope in my work and relationships?

The more I ponder on these questions the more I realize that my answer is no but only because I have been looking at the term expectations the wrong way. I have always associated this word as a bloody battle between my heart and mind but that is not the case at all. I know I am the product of God’s fine creation blessed with the ability–to love and to be loved, to work and to be worked on, to grow and to help others grow, and to think and to be taught. However, if I was to turn the term expectations into appreciation then my heart immediately eases. It lets go of the hated, anger, and fear of failure but looks at the people and situations that have ultimately disappointed me as appreciative opportunities to grow and learn from.

Working on a paper for countless hours to not get the grade you desired hurts a lot more than you would think. Losing a friendship because of realistic expectations broken hurts even more. However, I am slowly taking these situations of my expectations and turning them into appreciative lessons and looking at the silver lining.

It is OK to desire respect, love, validation, and care but it is NOT OK to let your heart ache when those desires aren’t met. Turn that ache into a lesson and grow through what you go through.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

87208
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

53388
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments