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It can be hard when things don’t go to plan, or don’t go your way. It’s all well and good to have high hopes and dreams, but when they don’t turn out, how do you deal with it? It can be a real knock and can put you off taking similar risks in the future.

So how do you deal with disappointment? How do you stop it from killing your confidence?

Tell your support network

I think it’s important to tell your friends and family about your disappointment, not only to gain support, but to understand that disappointment is a normal part of life and happens to everyone. By sharing your story, another person might also share theirs, or your story will be of comfort to them when they face future disappointments. It helps you to realise that disappointment is a normal part of life, and there will be many ups and downs along the way.

Embrace your disappointment

Don’t ignore your feelings of disappointment, allow yourself to be sad, and give yourself the time to accept those feelings. Telling others is a good way of acknowledging the feelings and putting them into words, helping you to name and understand them. Accepting your disappointment now is going to make it easier to move on, as well as make you more resilient against adversity in the future.

Make more plans

Once you have acknowledged and accepted your disappointment, get planning and get excited about other future potential options. As one door closes, other ones open, and you have other options and opportunities available to you. Life is all about forks in the road and unexpected opportunities, so embrace the uncertainty and pursue what you’re passionate about.