Skip to main content

The Face of Disappointment

As a writer, I feel I need to be aware of the physical response of individual's displaying different emotions. This helps me to accurately express my characters. Today we will look at the different faces of those experiencing disappointment.

When I see the face of disappointment, I am drawn to the individual. 

Sometimes I approach the person, and sometimes I don't, yet I am still drawn to their need.

I watch from my distance and try to figure out if the person is approachable, or if it is appropriate for me to walk close to him/her.

The face of disappointment is portrayed in many different ways depending on the circumstances and the person experiencing the situation. 

Note this photo. This person's disappointment has pulled her into her own thoughts. If a conversation were held near her she probably wouldn't hear it. She wouldn't want to eat or move, so consumed with rehashing the disappointing situation.

We could describe her as quiet and pensive. Perhaps one tear might fall without her noticing. Her eyes are slightly lowered and her brows somewhat furrowed. Her body is curled close to her torso. 

If you saw this person in a park or on a beach, would you go and talk with her? If so, what would you say?



This photo expresses a different response to disappointment. This person' may exhibit sudden aggressive actions after long moments of stillness. He may pace, mumble, blurt, huff, sigh, and wave his arms. Afterwords he may stand or sit still, but his mind is racing.

We could express him as explosive. Even though there will be long moments of quiet, any action he conveys will be sudden, perhaps short, or it could also be drawn out, but it will clearly convey his disappointment. 

He is working the problem with high energy. Rehashing the words, justifying his actions, searching for a way of escape, and desperately looking for an immediate solution.

Any words like, "Calm down" only fuel his explosive response. 

With cell phones ever present, we could see this man almost anywhere. If you did see him across the street, would you go and talk with him?


One last photo showing disappointment.

This person's response shows his tears. He is wiping them. This action is giving permission to approach. He probably will allow a kind spoken person to say something nice, but not intrusive, as a feeler. He is ready to share his disappointment and hungers for an understanding listener. He doesn't necessary want advice, although after he says his peace, he may invite something more than kind words. 

The amount of tears do not dictate the level of disappointment.

But the response: wiping away the tears, shows the person has noticed others around them has chosen to acknowledge their presence, and wants, even in the smallest measure, some kind, gentle interaction.

If you saw this person sitting on a park bench, cowering in a corner, outside a stadium after a game, would you go and talk with him/her?

God asks his own to help those in need. Sometimes sitting quiet by the person is best.   Sometimes the help required is space. And sometimes the person wants kind words. Having a discerning eye and stepping into the person's shoes/situation helps us know what God wants us to do.

Reader, how would you show God's love to a person experiencing disappointment?

All three photos are courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Comments

Janice said…
Sometimes the best we can do is to say something like "I hope you won't mind if I give you a hug," and then do so. If it seems right then say "I am here if you need to talk."
Both are excellent ideas. The one we need not do is to walk away.

Popular posts from this blog

Suzanne Woods Fisher - Overcoming the Fear of Failure

We've all had something fail. Maybe a school assignment, baking a cake, changing a car tire. Well that was my shortlist confession. There really is a mile long list that you don't want to hear.  Talk about a quick drive to the blues. Even one negative comment in a barrel full of praises can take us down. Sigh. Why oh why do we remember the one negative one and forget the positives.  You are not alone. We all do this. But there is a way of escape. Today, Suzanne Woods Fisher is going to share her story. The Fear of Failure ā€œFor I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. Do not fear; I will help youā€ (Isaiah 41:13, niv).              Years ago, before I received my first book contract, an editor returned a manuscript to me with the comment that the writing wasn’t up to her publishing house’s ā€œcaliber.ā€  Ouch!  That was a tough remark to swal...

A Memory Device For You

Photo Courtesy Recently I added a memory game to my week's activities.  It all started when I listened to one of those fabulous sermons in church and actually took notes. Later in the week, I recalled liking the sermon and searched for the notes, but lamented when I couldn't find the piece of paper. I quizzed myself: What was the general topic? I racked my brain…good grief this was Thursday and a thousand other things had happened when I asked the question. After a cup of tea, visualizing where I sat in the sanctuary, and using every other means possible to remember the general topic I finally answered the question.  The process to recall the rest of the good things said was an epic fail.  Although I have since started using a notebook I have created a memory game. On Monday, at any point during the day, I try to say the following without the use of my notes: General topic of the sermon Main book of the Bible used  Application p...

Laughter and Singing at the Homeless Shelter

It was a night to remember. A night to tell friends about. So I am... Fifty men, women, and teens rode in busses on icy expressways into the inner city. They poured out of the bus at a homeless shelter unsure where to go, what to do, or what to say. One led the pack through the main doors, pass security checkpoints, and on through winding hallways to a large room. At night, this room is filled, wall to wall, with cots, blankets, and at this time of year, cold homeless men, women, and children. On this evening before the night, hundreds of chairs formed straight rows and faced a platform.   The fifty set up sound and instrument equipment. Singers cozied in the limited platform space. Instrumentalists tuned their instruments.  A few residents poked their heads in the door. Intrigued, they came in and watched the first measures of several songs start, stop, start again. Microphone levels adjusted. The singers laughed. Chattered. The group stepped off to the side and...