"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 MyChronicPainTeam 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 MyChronicPainTeam:

• "It is really hard to accept our new normal. It takes time. And even after we've accepted it, there are still days when our limitations get to us."

• "It's sad because I'm too young for all is this but these are my circumstances and I have to deal with it and figure something out. Take care, everyone! Find Peace!"

• "You live your life, making the pain live with you and not you with the pain. It means learning to do things in all new ways, accepting frustration and anger when it happens, and finding areas to let go and new areas to excel at."

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