"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 MyEczemaTeam 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 MyEczemaTeam members:

• "I've had a bad night scratching, as with many people here the heat can be too much. I know if I keep looking after my skin it will improve. I've just joined this group and it seems like a great space and feel like being able to share and talk about my skin is going to be a positive thing."
• "Thank you for adding me. Excited to feel supported through this journey most people don’t understand."
• "Not too bad today...weather is good so it improves my skin."

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