Disappointment 4/10/2005 Everyone has hopes, dreams and plans. We all have ups and downs. When things don't work out, disappointment can be very troubling; yet you can use disappointment to improve your life. It helps when you understand what you can do to avoid disappointment and make life more enjoyable. Types Of Disappointments There are three types of disappointment: Simple disappointments can be small and easy to forget, or deep and painful. They can be the result of poor decision-making, bad luck or unrealistic expectations. Chronic disappointments tend to be part of a lifestyle pattern caused most often by not learning from the experience and having unreasonable expectations. Life stage disappointment, such as health problems, lost relationships and aging can produce frustration and resentment. If your life seems dull and routine, you may find yourself asking "Is this all there is?" Movies and television show us people whose lives are continually thrilling and satisfying. We're often disappointed when we realize our lives aren't that way. Handling Disappointment Disappointment begins when you expect or hope for something good to happen and it doesn't. You may first feel shocked and then disappointed. You may even refuse to believe the event has taken place. You feel a sense of loss. Eventually, you accept the loss and go on. You could avoid all disappointment by never expecting, risking or hoping for anything; but you wouldn't be able to plan your life and you would miss out on much of what makes life worth living. Expectations are only a problem if they are unreasonable, if you are overly rigid about them or if you are unwilling to do what's necessary to make them a reality. To avoid painful disappointment, you must see things as they are; then accept the risks that are an inevitable part of our lives.