A Way to Think About Disappointment
‘Disappointment to a noble soul is what water is to burning metal; it strengthens tempers, intensifies but never destroys it.’
Eliza Tabor
Disappointment is not one of those feelings that we all wish for in our daily lives. It can be a difficult thing to feel and when it is present within us, there can be a felt sense of wanting to shrug it off or distract oneself from really feeling it. But disappointment, like all feelings, has validity and by not allowing it to inhabit us even for a short time, we then fail to see what it can offer. Here’s what I believe is often overlooked when the merits of feeling disappointed are discussed…….. disappointment bears witness to hope.
Hope is a great thing. For me, it is one of the most important feelings of all. Sometimes we are very aware of what we hope for. Other times we may not be aware and so it may be when we feel disappointment that we realise that we had hoped for something or some outcome. By focusing on the presence of disappointment, we can bring the hope into view. And it is always worth paying attention to what it is we hoped for… Because hope can begin anew. It can be reborn. Part of the process of renewing and replenishing hope is sometimes to feel disappointment.