The past week has been quite painful. A project that I have poured my heart and soul into creating the last few months was rejected. I felt like my wildest hopes and dreams came crashing down into a million tiny pieces.
I cried..
And cried some more..
And sulked a bit. And perhaps even raised my fist to the heavens asking “Why?! Why did this have to happen to me?!”
I wanted to just soak in my misery. It felt justifiable to go through a period of mourning and grief and I wanted to stay there.
Basking in the pain felt powerful enough that it might just resurrect my broken dream back into living reality.
But I knew I was living an illusion. And sad to say, that the rest of my life was suffering as a result and there needed to be a way out.
It was in this moment of initial acceptance that I recalled two very important questions that I learned recently in a class I took on Gratitude:
When faced with life challenges, simply ask yourself
1. What’s the best part?
2. What’s the worst part?
What’s the best part?
Not the most delightful question when you’re experiencing pain and disappointment. Amazingly, asking that question helped shift my perspective to see that there were things that happened from this experience that were good. Even if it was simply that I now had more time back in my schedule and more space in my head to focus on parts of my life that had been pushed to the back burner.
Whats the worst part?
Another powerful question. Because often times, the answer isn’t quite what we think it is. My first answers to this question actually made me laugh because what I thought was the worst of it–wasn’t actually true. It helped me get to the root of my suffering quickly and I began to pull out of my dispair.
Best Part/Worst Part is going to become part of my daily routine now. It helped me not only clarify my life, but remind me of this simple truth expressed eloquently by Alexander Graham Bell:
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” -Alexander Graham Bell
I’m finding the open doors. They are more plentiful than I once thought.
What helps you deal with disappointment?
Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. She finds daily comfort in chocolate and brisk walks, enjoys cleaning the house, and her best ideas always come between the hours of 6:00-8:30 a.m.
Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.
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15 Responses
Good post – it’s so easy for me to give up and withdraw when facing disappointment. Love that quote from Alexander Graham Bell!
Loved this point …… very uplifting and reassuring for me right now …. thank you!
Ooh, I really love that perspective. I want to remember it to use with my kids too… to help them get through those tough things.
Mindy it works really well with kids 🙂 The instructor of the class I took said that she would use it all the time with her kids and their friends and even have neighbor kids come knock on her door because they wanted to tell them their “parts”! (Best part worst part). Try it and let me know how your kids react! I’d love to hear!
IF you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat the two imposters the same. –Ruyard Kipling.
(It never works for me all that well, but I like saying it).
I’m sorry. I’m going to take a guess at what you are disapointed about which makes me disapointed too.
LYB
I had never heard/read the second part of that quote (how ironic!) brilliant.
I almost cried reading this! I am so sad too…
But as always, you have a positive outlook and teach all of us along with you!
Oh I feel for you Brooke, I really do. I have been there. In an entirely different capacity, but I know what’s its like to watch your hopes and dreams come crashing down in front of you.
I’m loving the best part/worst part exercise you shared. What an incredible tool for dissecting our emotions and uncovering gratitude.
I hope doors are flung wide open for you and you realize soon that the best is yet to come. xo.
Thank you Beryl. I know you understand pain and disappointment 🙂 Thank you for your empathy, my friend!
I’m so sorry you had to go through a big disappointment! Trust you to turn it into a teaching moment though! 😉 Thank you so much for your posts. I admire how your strength, kindness and lovely soul shine through every one. Each time I read what you write, it makes me strive to be a better person.
So simple yet…so very hard! Or maybe so difficult, yet so very simple? Either way – so very true! And all may not be lost. What you learned and did through that project was still part of the journey. And this may just be a stumbling block to something greater. But unless you are open to the journey you might miss the lessons and the beauty along the way! Sounds like you are are fully open and looking for those open doors instead of focusing on the closed one!
Looking forward to your workshop in January!
Thank you everyone for your kind and compassionate comments! There is much to learn from every life experience 🙂
So, so sorry. Call me when you have a minute.
I love your attitude! You continue to inspire me! I’m so sad for your disappointment. I admire your spirit, even though I’m sure it wasn’t easy to deal with. Thanks for reminding us all to stay positive.