Disappointment
Sadness from an expectation that was violated — inherently comparative between what happened and what was expected.
How it shows up
Disappointment follows the gap between what we hoped for and what happened: a canceled trip, a lower grade, a gift that misses. People often replay the expected version, feel a drop in energy, and sometimes slump physically. It may help recalibrate expectations or show what mattered. Because it is built on a comparison, it can be surprisingly strong even when the actual outcome is fine on its own terms.
How it differs from regret
Disappointment is about an outcome falling short of expectation; regret adds the sense that your own choice could have led somewhere better.
Notice
When disappointment lands, notice the expectation it reveals, and how long you had been holding it.
Where it is felt
Felt most in the chest, stomach and shoulders.
Based on Nummenmaa et al. (2014), bodily maps of emotions, and related research. The map shows where people report bodily sensation, on average; individual experience varies.