Create a new appointment

My experience of scheduling appointments hasn't always been comforting. Some experiences have made me jittery, anxious, or even stressed. Appointments can vary greatly, from doctor visits to job interviews and even wedding days. Each one represents a potential step toward something significant and meaningful in the future. This underscores the importance of preparation, refreshing our minds, and being ready.

The Importance of Reflection

Before scheduling an appointment, we recognize the necessity to address a specific issue, whether with an individual or a situation. I've faced disappointments in job opportunities, relationships, business ventures, and personal health. While disappointment can leave you deflated, it's crucial not to remain in that state. Creating a "new appointment" can help get you back on track.

To do this successfully, ask yourself a few questions, including what you learned from the last appointment or disappointment.

Learn from Disappointments

• What lessons can you take away? Understanding why things didn’t go as planned is essential. Without this insight, we might navigate life without direction. While this isn't always easy, it's worth the effort. For example, if you didn’t secure a job, seek feedback instead of assuming you know the problem. If someone missed a date, find out why rather than assuming you were stood up on purpose. If you didn’t secure a business deal, investigate the reason. Don’t simply assume your proposal was insufficient.

  
  

• Begin with the end goal in mind. Focus on where you want to reach. This approach will help identify any gaps. Encountering an obstacle doesn’t mean you’re stuck. Instead, it offers a chance to find a way around it while keeping your ultimate goal in focus. This vision is crucial as we journey through life.

  
  

• Transform bumps into stepping stones. Bumps can serve as catalysts for re-evaluating our goals. Sometimes a setback prompts us to reconsider whether we are on the right path or if we need to adjust our destination. This reflection can lead to discovering new passions that align better with our values. In this way, a bump can redirect our journey toward a more fulfilling destination.

  
  

• Be intentional with your time. Channel your energies towards productive activities, ventures, and relationships.

  
  

Ultimately, we must learn to view disappointments or appointments as learning experiences. What we gather from these experiences can enhance our skills and knowledge, opening doors to improvement.

The Flow Toward an Appointment

1. There is a need - Whether discovered by you or someone else.

2. Assess who or what can meet that need.

3. Evaluate the resources required - This may involve time, money, or emotional energy.

4. Identify a time for the appointment.

   
   

"The fastest way to get over your last disappointment is to start preparing for your next appointment."

"What we focus our time on can consume us. What we allow to take root in our minds can grow and occupy the necessary intellectual space for something better."

When we make a new appointment with destiny, we refuse to give space to disappointment any longer. The kind of emotional growth we nurture depends entirely on us.

Dealing with the Hurt of Disappointment

Many times, what stops us from moving on is not admitting we were disappointed. You had an expectation, it did not come through, and you were disappointed—acknowledge it.

Acknowledgment is Key

The first step to moving forward is acknowledgment. When we admit our true feelings, we can navigate what to do next. Denying feelings hides the truth, compounding the problem because these emotions lack a constructive outlet.

Reflect and Release

The second step is to reflect and release. If we do not process our disappointment, it can lead to unintended paths that diverge significantly from our intended destination.

"It is normal to have a grieving period following disappointment, but even this period should be reasonable and proportionate with the size of the disappointment."

For instance, the amount of time I spent grieving over the loss of my mother differs significantly from the time I spent grieving over a lost job prospect. Recognizing this distinction is crucial. We need to communicate these feelings to those around us, helping them support us during tough times.

Identify Gaps

Time is a precious commodity. While we can buy many things, time isn't one of them. Opportunities don’t present themselves repeatedly in the same way. Hence, seizing opportunities as they arise is vital. Still, if we haven't addressed the gaps from our last disappointment, pursuing new opportunities becomes challenging.

Create a New Appointment

The final step is to create a new appointment because it is within your power to do so. Ultimately, embracing new possibilities grants us the chance to navigate our lives with purpose and direction.

Be blessed!