In the Midst of Disappointment

I am glad to have you here today. Greetings to you, believing you are fine as I am. I appreciate @sahmie for organising this contest and I am glad to write on this subject "Disappointment" which is capable of influencing our emotions negatively.

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What do you understand by Disappointment?
Disappointment could be seen as the feeling of dissatisfaction or sadness as a result of failed expectations, unmet desires or plans. It is also a discouraged stage of life that is caused by rejection, disapproval or disengagement after putting a lot of effort, energy, resources, or time etc.
Three principal or root causes of disappointment are:

1. Unrealistic goals/Expectations.
2. Refusal to accept a failed outcome.
3. Believing that what you are pursuing is your birthright or entitlement can also cause disappointment when it fails.

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Have you ever been disappointed before? What caused it?
Yes, I received one of the biggest disappointments of my life in the year 2008. I was home one of these days when my Reverend asked me to photocopy all my credentials and submit them to Mr Stephen Barau of blessed memory. He was then the secretary to the civil service commission in Lafia the state capital of Nasarawa state. Through his connection, I got a teaching job appointment, did my documentation and was waiting for the posting. Unfortunately for me, the state government released news that all appointments given during that period are cancelled because information reached the governor that his administration is selling appointments to citizens. This news really broke me, causing a serious emotional setback. I lived with this pain in me until I got another job a few months later.

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Why is it so hard to deal with disappointment?
It is so hard to deal with disappointment because of the following reasons:

1. High expectation/Hope: When an individual or a group of people place high expectations or hope on something, it becomes challenging to handle disappointment. Such a person or people don't push on but conclude that all hope and expectation is lost.
2. Refusal to accept failure: When things did not go as planned, some people find it very difficult to accept the reality. Instead, they keep lamenting and even get traumatised as a result.
3. Loss of control: Some individuals lose control at the slightest disappointment. They become aggressive, offensive, insecure and vulnerable.

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What can we do to make disappointments less painful?

To make disappointment less painful, the following should be considered as we set our goals or make plans for our lives:

1. Our goals should be flexible: When we set goals or make plans, we should be able to create allowances or give room for failure if it comes.
2. Accept reality (faluire): We should be prepared to accept failure, re-strategise, and move forward. Accepting failure or defeat is not weakness or the end of life. Instead, it shows our inner strength and readiness to keep moving despite failure.
3. Do away with anxiety: Anxiety is a strong feeling of fear. Therefore, to make disappointment less painful, we must be emotionally stable and calm as we pursue our goals.

Conclusion
Life is full of ups and downs, failures and successes. To strike a balance, we must be open to embracing any of them. Thank you for going through my article. I invite @josepha, @elsa-queen, @ukpono and @urmilanath650 to support and join the contest

Thank You All