Radical Honesty is Required

So how do you deal with disappointment? And not the “I just missed snagging the last dress in my size that was on sale” disappointment? I mean deep pressing, gut-punching, soul-crushing disappointment? Perhaps you’ve found yourself curled up in a ball with your favorite pint of smooth, milky ice cream? Or maybe instead you burrow down into the deep crevices of your warm bed, hiding, aching, afraid to peel back the layers and expose the deep hurt and pain that has bubbled to the top like a sunken ship that has begun to make its re-emergence. Yeah, that kind of disappointment.

As I reflect on my own encounters with disappointment, I realize the importance of radical honesty. We have to be willing to acknowledge our emotions in the midst of the hurt and pain that we feel. We have to be willing to go to the places where we are most uncomfortable and face some hard truths about the situation that may have unfolded. Perhaps, we realize that our expectations were too high of a certain person and we are expecting the same levels of commitment and follow-through only to be disappointed. You may realize that you can not expect you from other people. It doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to serve others, but what it does mean is that you approach each encounter with the realization that the same energy and support may not always be reciprocated. Perhaps you were expecting a really great outcome from an opportunity you pursued, only to be turned down. As disappointment bubbles up, we have to learn the lessons in the moments and not internalize them as shame. When we are able to carefully examine situations from a place of honesty and truth, we can begin to move towards building a bridge where we can learn and grow into our most wholesome and authentic selves. Continue to embrace growth, no matter how painful, and you will continue to see your life transform for the better.