"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 MyHeartDiseaseTeam 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 MyHeartDiseaseTeam:

• "This may sound crazy to say, but since learning I have heart disease, I have a new appreciation for life and more compassion for others. I'm still learning to have more kindness and compassion for myself."
• "Hello to everyone out there in heartland lol! So how's everyone doing? I hope that you are doing as well as you can with what you are able to do. Sometimes it seems like our energy is dwindling and other days we feel better - ah the life of a heart patient."
• "Nice to meet you. Everyone's situation is different. I wish you could all meet me personally and see my everyday living. I have this saying "I don't fear DEATH, DEATH fears ME". I am still very active but know my limitations. Keep a positive outlook and stay as active as you can but know your limitations. Your heart is a muscle you have to work at keeping it strong and healthy as possible."

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