How do you deal with disappointment? — Assembly

In Assembly’s “Around the world” series, girls sound off on the topics that matter to them, from the companies they’re dreaming up to the issues they wished more leaders talked about.

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“When dealing with disappointment sometimes I just have a good cry! I know crying is not a very inspirational way to cope but I find it helps me acknowledge the disappointment. I might even take some time doing things I love to help calm me down, like going out with friends or taking a night off studying. Investing in self-care after disappointment helps me to bounce back.”

— Caitlyn, 19, Australia

“Since I was 10, I have kept up the habit of writing about my feelings. In my journals, I document my ups and downs, highs and lows. Writing enables me to have a conversation with myself. It gives me an outlet to express all the things that I can’t share with anyone else. Whenever I get sad or disappointed, I know that in writing I can put what happened in perspective and resignify my feelings.”

— Renata, 20, Brazil

“When facing disappointment, I relish an album by Billie Eilish with a lovely pint of Ben and Jerry's The Tonight Dough ice cream. While I do like having this alone time, I later reach out for some advice from friends who are always there for me. I follow that up by saying empowering affirmations to myself in the mirror, like ‘I got this!’”

— Rachael, 18, U.S.

“I believe no one is a stranger to disappointment, but that doesn't mean we should drown ourselves in it. I think we should feel every bit of it, and learn as much as we can from it. It's probably something you have heard a thousand times, but it doesn't make it any less true.”

— Mariana, 17, Mexico