"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 MyMSTeam 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 MyMSTeam:

• "My day is going well. It's not a day I would have planned in a 'perfect world' but since I've learned (as we all have) that it's not a perfect world, I'm learning to embrace the place where I am. I have developed a new gratefulness for my health aside from this. Though living with MS, there are things I can still do."
• "We are learning how to appreciate the good days that’s for sure. Instead of embracing the misery we now applaud the days when the pain is less, the depression is less and just be thankful."
• "Happy Friday team!! Today is a fasting day! Did my walk this morning. Oh! I heard that I have lesions on my T10 so that explains my weakness in the right leg! Now it all comes together so off to do my darndest to make the best me with all of this knowledge! Remember your journey is what YOU make it! Make it great warriors!! "

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