Edition 55: How to handle Disappointment: Events 10 and 6 of Escape the 9-5 Grind; and news of an upcoming website creation webinar

Hi there LifeLong Learners,

In?Edition 54?of the?Study Wellness?newsletter, I introduced you to two powerful events from the?Escape the 9-5 Grind?series.

Event 9 explored the importance of trust in today’s world, where scams are abundant, focusing on building supportive networks. Event 5 explored whether a paycheck is the right price for your life’s passion and purpose, sparking deeper reflection on fulfilment beyond financial rewards. I'd like you to consider this when you think about 'work.'?

We also celebrated the exciting launch of the?Study Wellness?newsletter on Beehiiv, ensuring continued publication on both platforms for lifelong learners like you.

Compassion was highlighted as a critical spiritual force, essential for fostering collaboration and success in our studies and careers, as well as personal leadership and mental health.?

I hope these topics resonated with you and that you’ve found ways to incorporate these insights into your journey.

As we progress, I trust that Edition 54 brought you valuable lessons and a renewed sense of purpose.

Compassion, trust, and passion can shape your learning, career, and life.

This week’s edition highlights two exciting events from?Escape the 9-5 Grind?on September 18th.

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• Event 10: The Stream Wins Hands Down Against the Rock—Which Are You? At 9:00 BST, we’ll explore how challenges shape us, whether we are the rock resisting change or the stream that flows and adapts. This event is all about overcoming obstacles, building resilience, and shifting to a growth mindset.

• Event 6: Don’t Get Left Behind – Step Into the Limelight Now Before It’s Too Late In this event, you’ll learn practical tips for enhancing your digital presence, ensuring you stay visible and relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Also, don’t miss the upcoming?One-Day Digital Breakthrough?webinar on October 6th and 7th, where you can conceptualize, design, and create your website in just one day—free! Stay tuned for the video promos and fliers that will accompany this section.

I've been reading recently about how poor many young people's digital skills are. Up to 92% of young people entering the world of work have low levels of digital skills. This is surprising, but in my work in Japan with University students, I can assure you it's true. Often, more than half the class members shy away from anything digital. They're superb on their mobile phones but can only text and cruise SM platforms.

This image below is to encourage you to be determined to get your life the way you want it. There are so many choices nowadays!!

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Dealing with Disappointment in the Expanding Internet World: A Spiritual and Research-Based Approach

Disappointment is inevitable in any new venture, especially in the rapidly growing online business world. Whether it’s a failed launch, low engagement, or a technical setback, the key is approaching disappointment as part of the learning journey rather than an endpoint. Here’s how to navigate disappointment with a spiritual mindset and insights from the latest research.

It is also a big factor in studying, training, or achieving any goal! So, the wisdom below will help you deal with it in any situation.?

Spiritual Wisdom on Disappointment

Many spiritual teachings remind us that setbacks are inevitable and essential for growth. In Buddhist philosophy, for example, disappointment is seen as a reminder of impermanence—everything is in flux, and nothing lasts forever, including our struggles.

The Dalai Lama often suggests developing resilience by detaching from outcomes. By practising acceptance and releasing attachment to specific results, we open ourselves to new possibilities and growth.?

Similarly, in Hindu philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita advises focusing on the process rather than the result:

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”

This encourages us to find fulfilment in the journey rather than being defined by success or failure.

Incorporating these principles, you can view each disappointment as a temporary phase, one that is necessary for evolving both personally and professionally. When disappointment arises, take a moment to reflect, breathe, and remember that it is part of a bigger picture—a stepping stone toward eventual success.

Research Insights on Handling Disappointment

Modern research provides practical tools to deal with the emotional toll of disappointment. Studies in psychology highlight the importance of developing a “growth mindset,” a concept coined by Dr. Carol Dweck. A growth mindset allows us to see failures as opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve. Individuals with a growth mindset tend to bounce back from disappointments more quickly, as they view challenges as a natural part of the process.

Additionally, research into emotional resilience shows that those who practice mindfulness and self-compassion are better equipped to handle disappointment. In a study published in the?Journal of Clinical Psychology, researchers found that self-compassion—being kind to oneself in times of failure—leads to lower levels of anxiety and depression, and increases overall life satisfaction.

When we approach disappointment with a mindset of kindness and patience, we cultivate a resilience that allows us to keep moving forward.

Practical Steps to Handle Disappointment

1. Mindful Reflection:?Pause and reflect on the situation without judgment. Ask yourself, "What can I learn from this?" and "How can this help me improve?"
2. Self-Compassion:?Instead of criticizing yourself, speak to yourself as you would to a close friend. Please acknowledge your efforts and remind yourself that growth often comes from setbacks.
3. Reframe the Narrative:?Disappointment does not define your journey. It’s merely a part of the bigger picture, where every setback holds a lesson that contributes to future success.
4. Embrace Change:?Recognize that change is constant. Spiritual teachings remind us that uncertainty is the only certainty, and learning to flow with it will allow you to face future challenges more gracefully.
5. Focus on the Process:?Shift your focus from the end goal to the small daily steps that lead you there. This reduces the pressure of achieving immediate success and opens up space for continuous learning and adaptation.

The Bigger Picture

Building an online business and studying/training for any goal/qualification is a continuous learning process; disappointment is part of that. Indeed, working towards any goal demands consistency and resilience. We've talked about this many times before.

But every setback is an opportunity to grow—personally, professionally, and spiritually. As spiritual teacher Pema Ch?dr?n puts it,?

“Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.”?

By combining spiritual wisdom and the latest psychological insights, disappointment can be transformed from a stumbling block into a powerful tool for growth and self-discovery.

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Inspirational Quote for Reflection:?

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." – Henry Ford

Inspiring Image:

Well, have a great week, and please try out the disappointment-avoiding strategies.

The trick is not to have any expectations in the first place.

See you next week.

Yours, un-disappointedly and without any expectations.

Just a broad deep river flowing on peacefully.

Linden