Learning to manage disappointment is crucial to your success as an entrepreneur and your ability to experience a deeply joyful and peaceful life.

But we’re never really taught explicitly how to manage disappointment, which can make doing so really hard.

No matter how positive of a person you are or the perspective through which you see life, you’re bound to experience disappointment in yourself, others, and things that happen in your life.

Because there’s no avoiding it, it’s better to learn how to manage it.

Here are my top five tips to keep in mind when navigating disappointment in life…

#1 Acknowledge your feelings

Know that it’s okay to feel disappointed in yourself, others, or something that happens in life.

But it’s not okay to hold onto those feelings and become resentful.

Acknowledge what you feel, but move on as quickly as you can.

#2 Check your expectations

The root of most disappointment in life is unmet expectations.

If that’s the cause of your disappointment, it’s important to reflect on whether your expectations were attainable and realistic.

Adjusting expectations can prevent future disappointments and promote a more positive outlook

#3 Learn to accept and let go of hurt

Again, it’s okay to feel hurt by a disappointing situation

But remaining hurt prevents you from learning from the situation and growing as an individual

Moving into, through, and on from the hurt you feel allows you to live life on your terms rather than being a slave to the disappointment

#4 Focus on what you can control

Often, the only thing we can control in life is our reaction to a situation and how we choose to perceive life and reality afterward.

So, in times of disappointment, focus on those two things.

#5 Extend forgiveness

Whether it’s to yourself, another person, or an event, extending forgiveness helps mitigate disappointment.

The truth is, stubbornness and the inability to forgive do more damage to you personally. It doesn’t “prove a point,” it just keeps you from healing.

The more you offer forgiveness, the freer you become, and the deeper the inner peace you experience.