"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 MyParkinsonsTeam 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 MyParkinsonsTeam:

• "LIGHTBULB MOMENT! Our life is always leeching away from the minute we are born! So get on with enjoying what you’ve got left! Got up, showered, and went to bed telling myself I might not get any better but life is still worth living! Don’t know how long I can keep feeling positive but I’m going to make an effort to enjoy those bits of my life which are still there to be enjoyed."
  
• "I'm a bit under the weather with a bad cold, and only got out for one of our usual two dog walks today. Still, not a bad day. I'm feeling better here towards the end of the day and seem to be on the upswing. We have a new gym opening in our little town that I might try next week. I really need to improve my frequency and intensity of exercise. Aloha to everyone!"
  
• "Had a beautiful drive down to Hot Springs yesterday for a Rock Steady Boxing orientation - open house. I look forward with great anticipation to what the program could do to slow down the progression of this nasty disease. I'm also eager to connect with others on this same journey."

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