Disappointments
Reality is, people will disappoint us. It happens, and we disappoint people too. We fail to deliver on promises and meet expectations, spoken and implied.
When I’m disappointed, I have what I call “situationally appropriate emotions.” And I move on, not out of some kind of moral righteousness because, after all, I am no better, given my capacity to disappoint. I move on because I see opportunities to engage people’s strengths in new ways. Without faith in myself and others I am simply a coward - a role I will gladly refuse and leave to others.
January 11th, 2006 18:13
I agree with what you express here, Jack. But, now I want to know - do you ever have situationally INappropriate emotions?
January 11th, 2006 18:38
Actually, for me the distinction has to do with how important it is to see the validity of even emotional reactions that we are hardly comfortable with, so yes, the older I get the fewer situationally inappropriate emotions I find myself having : )
January 11th, 2006 20:10
Thanks for the situationally appropriate teaching, my friend.