Something positive

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT)

Who hasn’t experienced disappointment on occasion? When we are disappointed because our expectations about something or someone are unfulfilled, we may become discouraged, lose trust, and even close ourselves off to others. We can become unhappy, resentful, bitter, and angry; and in the long run, this can negatively affect our health.

While these are natural reactions, there is a better way. In fact, disappointment needn’t destroy us; it can teach us. Here are four tips for dealing with disappointment:

- Accept that people are not perfect, nor are they the same as you. They don’t think exactly the same as you do, don’t see things the way you do, and often don’t react to circumstances the same way you do. Recognize and understand that others’ priorities aren’t necessarily the same as yours.
- Accept that there are all kinds of situations in life, some of which you’ll like and some you won’t. Life doesn’t have to be perfect, entirely happy, or entirely successful to be worthwhile.
- Learn to be flexible when facing a situation that isn’t turning out as you’d hoped. A dry branch breaks when you put pressure on it, but a green branch full of life bends instead.
- Look for the positive side of each situation and ask yourself, what can I learn from this? How can I use it as something positive?

If we seek God in each situation we face, what could have been negative can turn into something positive. [1]

Never allow a disappointment to steal the joys of life. In the end, the sum of our lives is not a result of what happens to us, but rather, how we deal with it. - Kevin Gerald

[1] Activated Dealing with Disappointment