One thing I've learned is to take people as they are, not who I think they could be. A lot of disappointment came from me seeing the good in people and believing they would eventually show up the way I would. Meanwhile their actions kept telling a different story. At some point I realized potential means nothing if the effort isn't there. Now I pay attention to what people consistently do, not what I hope they'll become. That mindset saved me from a lot of unnecessary letdowns.