Unwrapping Seasonal Disappointment

Do you find life can get awfully disappointing at times? Me too!

Welcome my friend to our time together over a cuppa ~ grab yourself one as we unwrap the layers of disappointment, just like the layers of a package to get to the core issue.

It’s a crazy wet & cold Summer here in Australia this year! So we have retreated indoors where it’s dry, warm & cosy.

I have prepared a little tray of goodies for us with a cup of Spiced tea we have a couple of home baked gf double choc brownies.

Disappointed

I’m feeling a little disappointed today, well actually not just a little but a lot!

Before I share why I’m feeling this way let’s look at what disappointment mean;

 Disappointment is the feeling of sadness or displeasure in unmet hopes, dreams & expectations. 

Which means if we are feeling disappointed, then we held an expectation for a particular outcome, that would be fulfilled in the manner in which we had hoped.

I have shared about expectations previously in Iced Wine tea & expectations… which you’re most welcome to read.

But today I will be focusing upon what we can do once disappointment has arrived.

Starting at the outer layer

After going so well physically lately, I’m finding myself wrapped in disappointment!

Not because of the wet & cold Summer but because of this demanding tenant called Fibromyalgia (FM)!

Which has amped up its demands, severely impacting my energy & pain levels once again.

And has caused the cancellation of my travel plans to see family.

Although the demands of this tenant are not new to me, after all I have been dealing with them since 2005 & know that this flare will pass in time.

I have to ask myself the following;

Why am I feeling so disappointed?

As I was reflecting upon this I realised what had happened.

Being the eternal optimist.

Ever so subtly, my hopes & expectations had been building, little by little of restored health in a particular way that I had dreamt & expected!

In fact it was so subtle, deep in my subconscious that I was completely unaware of this until it hit me!

That those expectations weren’t being fulfilled! Ohhhh!

Have you ever had that experience my friend?

When your hopes, dreams or expectations for a situation are dashed, then suddenly disappointment hits & hits hard!

Realising that you actually had rather high hopes & expectations for that situation!

But now those hopes & dreams lay disappointingly & painfully unfulfilled at your feet.

Stop, Reflect & Reassess

This is the time we need to stop, reflect & reassess!

And not continue to languish in the outer layer of disappointment.

Sure we need to recognise & validate our feelings as that’s important!

But then let’s get on with peeling back the layers to get to the true core of our disappointment.

For there is always a deeper issue at hand fuelling the outer layer.

Let’s make it personal…

Layer 1 unwrapped

My disappointment in being unable to continue the amount of physical activity & responsibilities I had been excitedly able to do this year with having a less demanding pain & fatigue cycle of Fibromyalgia.

To reveal

It’s about loss…

Layer 2 unwrapped 

Disappointment in the unfulfilled dream of being capable again [healthy] as I was before chronic illness.

To reveal

I obviously hold a deeper hope & expectation to live the active life I once lived before these chronic health conditions impacted my life.

To be fit, healthy, reliable & able to spend more time with family & friends with no chronic pain, chronic fatigue or fibro fog!

But I need to recognise the gift in this Season in my life too!

…during this time of chronic illness I have been so blessed in a deepened relationship with my heavenly Father through His Son Jesus as never before!

Layer 3 unwrapped, the core exposed

My disappointment’s core is actually Loss & grief…Ahhh…

It’s about grief…

I acknowledge there has been a great deal of loss & grief in my life not only in the loss of my late husband Ed to brain cancer (he passed leading up to the Christmas season).

And the loss of both my daughter Candy & my son Benjamin.

But other loss of my health & having to retire early from my professional career.

And this time of the year always brings those losses to the forefront!

So the disappointment of this challenging FM cycle has actually triggered an underlying grief…

Thus I need to be kind to myself at this time, remembering God’s promises have never failed me;

“…I will turn their grief into joy.

And will comfort them,

& give them joy for their sorrow.” 

Jeremiah 31:13

Disappointment comes to us all my friend but it’s how we process it that counts.

Remember God’s comfort is available to us & His joy is our strength even when we feel disappointed with life’s circumstances.

Are you disappointed with something in your life? Does this Christmas season trigger a deeper issue at hand?

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

Or

in Prayer

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© 2021 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Dina on Pexels.com 

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