How to Turn a Disappointment into an Appointment

Everyone becomes disappointed from time to time. However, disappointments can be turned into appointments when you know how to do it. Do you know how to turn your disappointments into appointments?

A disappointment is an awful feeling initially. You could become disappointed over the loss of a job, a failed relationship, not getting your dream house, being turned down for a bank loan, or a number of other things that could happen to you.

There is no foolproof way of avoiding disappointments. However, we can turn disappointments into appointments.

Disappointment: Definition

A disappointment is the feeling of sadness or displeasure that has been caused by not having hopes or expectations fulfilled.

A disappointment is “not” having something done that was expected.

A disappointment is getting a “no” when a “yes” was the desired response.

As you can see from the above definitions, a disappointment involves a “not” and a “no.” However, a person can turn the situation around by dismissing those two words and end up with an appointment where the word is “Yes.”

Words that start with “dis” mean “not” or “no.” The prefix is found in words such as the following ones:

• displeased: not pleased
• discomfort: no comfort
• discontent: not having contentment.
• disease: not at ease
• disappear: not appearing
• disappointment: no appointment

A disappointment can be an appointment that did not happen or hasn't happened yet. You can eliminate a disappointment by simply eliminating “dis” from the word. Then you are left with the “appointment” that you really desire.

Behind every disappointment is an appointment waiting to come out for something greater. It is unfortunate that most of the time, people get stuck in their disappointments and never move on to the appointment phase.

Jacob's Disappointment

One of the stories in the Bible is a good example where disappointment took place is found in Genesis 29. Surely, Jacob was disappointed after working seven years for Rachel. Then on his wedding night, he woke up to discover that he had been tricked into marrying her older sister Leah instead.

Rachel's father Laban told Jacob it was customary for the older sister to be married first. In order for Jacob's disappointment to be turned into an appointment, he agreed to work another seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:25-27).

Jacob was disappointed, but he did not stay stuck in it. Instead, he was able to marry Rachel after Leah had completed her honeymoon. Jacob kept moving as he worked an additional seven years for Rachel. Had Jacob not gotten out of his disappointment, he never would have finally married Rachel, the sister he really loved.

Let's be like Jacob when we experience a disappointment. We might not have to do something as difficult and as long as what Jacob had to do, but we can turn disappointments into appointments.

Get rid of the “dis” in every disappointment and keep the appointment that follows. The new appointment is usually much greater than the thing that disappointed you.

Often, what follows a disappointment is much better if we could just believe it. In the picture below, a little girl is disappointed when she is asked to give up her small teddy bear. At the time, she doesn't know that something better is in store for her.

Several things are common in every disappointment.

• Disappointments happen to everyone from time to time.
• Disappointments are permanent.
• If disappointments linger, you could become bitter.
• There is no need to get stuck in a disappointment.
• Disappointments can be turned into appointments that are better than what you expected.

Disappointments can turn into negative responses if they are not handled properly.

• a feeling of loss
• believing you have been deliberately let down
• believing you have been betrayed
• believing you were not worth getting what you desired

Remember this:

A disappointment is simply an appointment that took a wrong turn.

READ 7 Ways to Deal with Discouragement