Options

Have you ever planned a trip? It promises rest, peace, intimacy, and great weather. You plan it out in your head. You know the sights you want to visit. You pick out restaurants based on recommendations. You plan for amazing experiences. You plan for intimate interactions. You have all the locations mapped out BUT you didn't plan on hiccups. You didn't factor in restaurants being closed that came with great reviews. You didn't plan on museums you anticipated would be closed. You didn't plan on physical exhaustion. You didn't plan the rest you would need.
LIFE is seldom what we think it will be! It can sometimes cause disappointment.
1+1 does not always equal 2. We want it to play out a certain way but there is no guarantee it will. Life can take us through twists and turns we seldom plan for.
What is your reaction when life delivers something different than your expectations or anticipations?
Do you get angry or depressed?
Does it send you into a tailspin?
What steps do you take both mentally and spiritually to walk you out of disappointment?

The definition of disappointment is sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.

In my life, disappointment wasn't a word I used to describe my heart. When things didn't work out as I had hoped, I experienced my reaction. Before I identified disappointment, it wreaked havoc in my heart. An event would happen that caused disappointment in my heart. Instead of identifying disappointment, I would get angry, depressed, anxious, fearful, triggered, etc.
It was easy for me to get snagged and swept under by a wave of disappointment without knowing what happened and not working it out.
Once I started identifying it, I could express what happened, my feelings, and what I needed. I could tell myself I had options. It allows me to step back and evaluate what is in my heart. I can identify what is operating and deal with it.
What a gift.  
Some years back, I received an assignment from my counselor.
Her assignment was for me to purchase magazines and a poster board. Gather scissors and glue. She wanted me to skim the pages of the magazines and cut out the ones that caught my attention. Next, she wanted me to make a collage on the poster board.
After I finished, I noticed a pattern. The collage allowed me to see the things I enjoy like cycling and walking. Enjoying time with family and friends. Enjoying time in life giving spaces that allow for rest and refreshment. I noticed that my heart gravitated towards spaces inside and outside that promoted time and fellowship with other people.
Mostly, this posted allowed me to see I have options.
When life doesn't quite work out quite the way I hope, or this poster is a great reminder that I have options.
The exercise helped me to see there isn't only one way of doing things and only one option.
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Philippians 4:8 brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent and praiseworthy – think about such things.