When we refuse to work with our disappointment, we break the Precepts: rather than experience the disappointment, we resort to anger, greed, gossip, criticism. Yet it’s the moment of being that disappointment which is fruitful; and, if we are not willing to do that, at least we should notice that we are not willing. The moment of disappointment in life is an incomparable gift that we receive many times a day if we’re alert. This gift is always present in anyone’s life, that moment when ‘It’s not the way I want it!”
Quote by Charlotte Joko Beck
REFLECTION:
- Are you willing to look disappointment in the eye?
- What do you resort to to avoid acknowledging disappointment – anger, greed, gossip, criticism, judgment?
- How can you see disappointment as a gift?
- “If it’s not the way you want it”, is there something you can do about that?