Delighting in Disappointment

by Stella Whalen

I came across a quote once that said, "If you expect disappointment, then you'll never be disappointed." I hate that quote. I live my life in the complete opposite mindset. I expect the best outcome in every situation, every single time, and am therefore disappointed quite frequently. I am naturally an extreme optimist, and with that comes the acceptance of the fact that I will be let down in life. I realized, however, that although it's emotionally safer to expect disappointment, I would never try in life if I sat in that mindset. 

What's the reason I give 100% every track practice? I expect to do well. Why did I go to college? I expect to impact the world around me through my profession. Why don't I give up on relationships in my life? I expect that they won't give up on me. Why do I force myself to meet new people and try new things? I expect to grow as a person. Am I continuously disappointed when my expectations aren't met? Yes. But I have found the greatest joy in the process.

Stella running up a hill in Angel Fire, New Mexico in

the summer of 2023. 

Joy: happiness not based on circumstances. Whether athletes like to admit it or not, we are prone to letting our circumstances dictate our mindsets. Expectations go unmet daily, and sometimes our disappointments are too numerous to count. God calls us to a mindset that looks past our unanswered prayers to a place of complete trust and reliance on Him. 

Results, people and standards will unfailingly let you down, but God's plan for your life never will. As athletes, we have to trust that our worth is not determined by the outcome of our expectations but by how we hold ourselves in our disappointments. The world pays more attention to the broken-hearted than they do to success. Although success is craved by everyone, sadness is experienced by all. Therefore how athletes handle the lows matters more than how they celebrate highs. Be a person that expects the best, and handles the worst with grace. 

Works Cited:

The Gospel Coalition 

Bible Gateway: Romans 15:13

Photo Credit: Sydney Ruckman