"But that's not the way it's supposed to be!" is a common thing we say when our expectations fall short. It happens to all of us. Some members of DiabetesTeam have found the practice of "allowing and letting be" in the midst of trying, to be a way to minimize anxiety or heaviness.

Mindfulness experts suggest a few ways that we can notice -- not push away -- how we feel during difficult moments. There are physical responses we can notice (heaviness in the shoulders, tightness in the chest), and we should also take note of our emotional responses to disappointment (blame, self-doubt, exasperation). These can be opportunities to realign our expectations and extend grace to ourselves.

Here are recent conversations from DiabetesTeam:

• "I hope everyone has an amazing day and don't ignore your problems unless your problem is a nosey co-worker then ignore them because it pisses them off. Also, ignore the candy bars at the store."
• "Hello everyone... I'm doing good today. I went for my morning walk for 2 laps and I feel great. No pain just tiresome lol... Walking is good for the body and I love doing it. One of my hobbies I do every day."
• "Had a great day. Good news at my dental appointment. You can’t see but I am doing the happy dance."

Share how you respond when things fall short of your expectations in the comments below or directly on DiabetesTeam.com.