"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 MyFoodAllergyTeam 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 MyFoodAllergyTeam:

• "Today’s been a great day in general for me so I wanted to share the positivity and what I’ve been workly on lately. I’m working on finding new foods I can eat and recipes that I can tweak to fit my allergy needs."
• "Just became a new member of this site. I'm already feeling better that I'm not alone in my food allergies and sensitivity."
• "Great news I know it's only a week but I have seen much improvement in illness now I need to stick to my diet profiles take the good days with the bad. I know it's a lifelong thing but at least my mind is at ease I know what I do. Never give up. Cheers to all in your journey."

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