"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 myHSteam have found the practice of "allowing and letting be" in the midst of a trying time to be a way to minimize anxiety or disappointment.

Mindfulness experts suggest a few ways that we can notice -- not push away -- how we feel during difficult moments. There may be physical responses (heaviness in the shoulders, tightness in the chest) as well as emotional responses (blame, self-doubt, exasperation) to disappointment that we can notice without responding to. Noticing these sensations without reacting can be opportunities to realign our expectations and extend grace to ourselves.

Here are recent conversations from myHSteam members:

"I honestly hope my experience will help you guys because I know very well how painful and frustrating this condition is."

"I've dealt with this ever since I was a teenager, but it took until age 33 to get a definitive diagnosis."

"I may have HS but it does not define who I am as a human being. I am so much more than HS... I am so much more ❤."

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