"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 myCOPDteam have found the practice of "allowing and letting be" in the midst of a 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 MyCOPDTeam:

• "Like any journey, we hit those rough patches, and look don't be afraid to reach out to someone on this site, especially regarding the cost of meds and what help is available, we are all here to support one another."
• "I’m going to start off by being grateful for this site and have a place to go to say how I'm feeling and get understanding from you. It’s great to know I’m not alone in this journey. So today I have a choice to be happy or feel sorry for myself and I’m choosing happy."
• "I don't know why, but I nearly had a meltdown. It was a 3+ hour journey and I had to drive. We very nearly didn't go because I was afraid I couldn't cope. Going to have to get over that kind of thing. I drove perfectly well and it was great meeting up with old friends. We had a great weekend. It showed me that I must stay positive, whatever is planned, and go with the flow. Mustn't let this condition stop me from doing things I want."

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