How do you handle disappointment?

[Barbaraann]

We all have disappointments in our lives. Sometimes a person breaks a promise, or doesn't live up to our expectations. Sometimes plans are changed, or don't happen at all. No one's life is 100% perfect, and we all have to handle being disappointed.

If someone disappoints you, or doesn't keep a promise, do you tell them about it? Or do you just forget about it, and hope it doesn't happen again.

Sometimes, I think that I expect too much from people. I believe what they tell me, and when it doesn't happen, I get disappointed. Sometimes, I have misunderstood the entire situation. It meant more to me, than it meant to the other person.

I had a mom who never made promises. She always said that, that way I would never be disappointed.

So how do you handle life's disappointments?

[sunnygirl]

My first response when someone disappoints me is to cry. No matter how many times someone lets me down, it always comes as a total shock to me.

In situations like this, first I gauge just how serious the situation is. If it's a small thing, I let it go, and just realize that nobody is perfect. But if it's something big, or something that weighs heavily on my mind, I will discuss it as non-confrontationally as possible with the offending party.

[Barbaraann]

I get angry. However, my anger comes in different degrees. Sometimes, I yell my head off at the person. Other times, when I am totally taken by surprise, I get quiet, and promise myself that I will never trust that person again. I usually get over it, but more often than not, I don't really tell the person how I feel. I think I have a problem with believing people.

[Craigroy8287]

I'm a pretty forgiving person. If someone breaks a promise they made to me I may get mad at first but I usually get over it really fast. In fact I can not even remember a time in my life that I have held a grudge with someone because of a broken promise.
I have had to deal with a lot of disappointments in my life so I guess at times I don’t expect too much from certain people.
I have a friend who is a huge flake and when I ever I call him out on it he quotes a line from a Gin Blossoms song. The song is “Hey Jealousy” and the line is “If you don't expect too much from me you might not be let down”. At least he is honest.

[I Heart Disneyland]

It depends upon the person and what they did. Normally I'd speak up. If it's a very close person, and, it's a bad situation, I spend a lot of time thinking about it and often do cry. If I can, I always try to speak to the person about it. But, if it's a small thing, I just let it go.

[PretzelSouls]

I'm horrible at handling disappointments for the most part. I've got some seriously anger issues when it comes to that kinda stuff, I bought a punching bag and that seems to help a lot. It also depends a lot on the person who disappointed me, I try not to take promises loosely.

[aashee]

My premature gray hair answers the question. I keep it inside and the disappointment comes out in gray.

[Barbaraann]

Don't tell me you are going to do something, if you are not going to do it. That's the type of person that I am. I guess that I got that from my mom. I just think that some people don't really say what they mean. It's just idle chatter. I take it seriously, and they don't even realize that they have made a promise. Do you know people like that?

[Sorcerer's Apprentice]

I login to Mice Chat!

[Joshrzmeup]

It's hard for me to handle disappointment. If we made plans weeks ago, and that morning, half an hour before we are supposed to hang out, you text me and cancel because you changed your mind, then i'd be mad. That's happened more times than I care.

If you got sick or there was a family problem, sure I understand, that sort of stuff comes first.

I do cry, it's my first reaction, if you let me down more and more i'd get madder and madder not only at you, but at myself for being a trusting person.

[Barbaraann]

If a friend, or family member does something that you never expected them to do, do you tell them that you are disappointed, or do you keep it to yourself?

[PretzelSouls]

Originally Posted by Joshrzmeup

It's hard for me to handle disappointment. If we made plans weeks ago, and that morning, half an hour before we are supposed to hang out, you text me and cancel because you changed your mind, then i'd be mad. That's happened more times than I care.

If you got sick or there was a family problem, sure I understand, that sort of stuff comes first.

I do cry, it's my first reaction, if you let me down more and more i'd get madder and madder not only at you, but at myself for being a trusting person.

Oh yeah, that's a big one.
Usually I handle that kind of disappointment with attitude.

[sunnygirl]

Originally Posted by Barbaraann

If a friend, or family member does something that you never expected them to do, do you tell them that you are disappointed, or do you keep it to yourself?

Most of the time I keep it to myself unless it's something that directly involves me. I've been disappointed many times at the actions of my friends and family, when they've done things that I never would or things that I find objectionable. But again, if it doesn't directly involve me, I'll rarely say anything.

[Barbaraann]

I am by no means perfect. However, when I was younger, I would discover that a friend of mine had done something that I didn't approve of. I hated judging them, but I didn't do anything about it. I certainly didn't tell them that I disapproved of their behavior. However, because of my disappointment, I started to avoid that person. I guess people move in and out of our lives, because of the choices that we make.

[aimster]

I throw things... then I feel a little better.