In this episode host Sondra Doty talks about bearing disappointments. All of us have felt the weight of disappointment during the last month with the current situation: Some days we might simply carry our own and other days we could be bearing the weight of the world's disappointments.
Sondra has noticed disappointment rearing it's head a lot lately. Understandable, considering life as we knew it around the world is being canceled. Adapting to all the routine-shifting grows more difficult when we don't stop and process the disappointments and instead stow them away or ignore them. Disappointments can lead to heightened fear, anxiety, depression, and so much more. We instinctively seek to find better feelings and numb or distract ourselves. It would be easy during this time to say, "I'm too busy to feel anything in this moment." Or, "When things get back to normal, then I will deal with my thoughts and feelings."
Well, the time is now Perhaps it's not actually the big thing in front of you that's disappointing you. Sometimes, something else is really driving your emotions. Could there be something from your past that is keeping you from adapting well to the current circumstance? Sondra will give a recent example of this in her own life, as she faced disappointment around facilitating online learning and homeschooling her boys. In fact, this is something she said that she would never do, LOL. Well, "never say never!"
In this episode Sondra also welcomes her two boys, Alvin (11) and Bernard (5), as guest to the podcast. She wanted the boys to share a few of their own disappointments. Let's just say, "Disney World" and "cancelled" are two phrases young kids don't ever want to hear in the same sentence. Sondra has found it especially challenging to walk this current road given an almost 6-year-age gap between her boys, and thus the need to explain things differently to each boy. Explaining the what and why usually needs to be tailored by age, but now must also be seasoned with varying, heavy emotional tools among parents and the little humans.
This could be a good opportunity for you to listen to this part with your own children. Then have a similar conversation and connection time with them.
Action Item: Take time to STOP daily and check in with your heart. What are moments like this trying to teach you? You will never know, if you always turn to numbing practices or seek distraction. So, feel and release. Don't assume. Maybe there is more to the disappointment you are experiencing and facing. So, go discover your heart and ask questions.
Episode Resources:
It's Not Supposed To Be This Way, by Lisa Terkeurst
"When His timing seems questionable, His lack of interventions seems hurtful, and His promises seem doubtful, I get afraid, I get confused. And left alone with those feelings, I can't help but feel disappointment that God isn't doing what I assumed a good God should do."
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