How do you deal with disappointment?

Tess Thomas  | 

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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


 
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“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


 
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“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.


 
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“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

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Meet the Author
Meet the Author
Tess Thomas

(she/her) is the editor of Assembly, a digital publication and newsletter from Malala Fund. She loves books, cats and french fries. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.