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Success Tips by Tim Connor Managing Disappointment "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." Martin Luther King, Jr. Disappointment in life is directly relat- ed to your expectations. When you want something, expect to have it, achieve it, or experience it and it doesn’t become a reality, you feel let down, upset, and/ or disappointed. Why do people set them- selves up for disappointment by creating mental expectations for a result which may be in the control of others: parents, spouse, company, boss, or friend? It is often natural and/or normal to want something you don’t have. To desire to achieve something you have yet to accomplish. To accomplish some task or enjoy some special status, recognition, or power. It is not natural, however, to get everything you want in life. You can have almost anything you want if you are willing to pay the necessary price (both short and long term) for it. But you can’t have everything you want! It’s just not that kind of world. Disappointment is part of life. When you were young, if you were not permitted by your parents or care- givers to be disappointed, I guarantee sooner or later you will experience a truth life wants you to learn - everyone expe- riences disappointment at some point (and some more often than others). No one is immune. You cannot escape it; you can only learn to manage it. Since disappointment is directly relat- ed to your expectations, what can you do to ensure you are disappointed less in your life? You can: • Balance your optimism with your realism as you manage your ex- pectations. • Accept the simple fact you won’t get everything in life you want. • Learn to enjoy what you have and feel gratitude for having it. • Accept the simple truth that sooner or later everyone will disappoint you. • Try to determine another person’s real intent before getting set up. • Believe that life happens - does- n’t mean you have to see yourself as a victim. • Accept that you are in charge of your reactions, behaviors, feelings, etc. - no one or nothing else is unless you give them or it the power. • Understand people make mis- takes; they are not perfect (this in- cludes you). • Know that outcomes are directly related to attitudes and behaviors. Don’t like outcomes? Guess what? • Believe we are all a work in pro- gress. In His service, Tim To receive Tim’s weekly FREE motivational booster articles, contact him at www.timconnor.com with “please add me to your free booster e-mail subscriber list” in the subject line. Or contact him via e-mail at admin@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 29 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2014