Pep-Talk: Processing Disappointments

Y’all know by now that I have experienced more than one setback recently. It’s all been heartbreaking, disorienting, and frightening all at the same time. But the primary throughline in this roller coaster of emotions has been disappointment. Disappointment that my marriage ended. Disappointment that I’ve had to pivot on some financial goals. Disappointment that my brand-new job didn’t work out. Disappointment that it’s been so difficult to secure a job since getting laid off.

I wrote a letter to myself recently, when I was in a low place seeking hope and encouragement. Though it’s a little vulnerable, I’d like to share that letter with you all. I don’t know who needs to read it, but I hope it helps someone in a way that writing it helped me.

Life Can Be Disappointing. Here’s a Pep-Talk From My Own Season of Disappointment.

Disappointments often feel like roadblocks, but they can actually be detours guiding us toward something better. When we miss out on an opportunity we wanted, it’s easy to dwell on what could have been. But in hindsight, we often see that what we thought was a loss was actually a blessing in disguise.

Sometimes, the job we didn’t get, the relationship that didn’t work out, or the plan that fell apart was simply clearing space for something greater. Closed doors protect us from paths that weren’t meant for us, and setbacks build resilience, wisdom, and clarity. The very things that disappoint us today may be the reason we end up exactly where we’re meant to be.

So when things don’t go as planned, trust that life is still working in your favor. The right opportunities have a way of finding you, usually in ways you never expected.