the life of try – Surprised By Joy

“You never fail until you stop trying.” – Albert Einstein

I have been watching a lot of Little League baseball this Spring. It’s a fascinating mix of young athleticism and skill development peppered with moments of bitter disappointment. In most every practice and game there is at least one example of someone who wants to sit on the ground and pout because things aren’t going as they expected.

But disappointment doesn’t just happen to six and seven-year-olds. It reminds me that expectations can inspire us to try—until they harden into a demand for a specific outcome.

In this episode of The Life of Try, I dig in to how unmet expectations fuel disappointment, why that disappointment can keep us from taking healthy risks, and what it looks like to stay hopeful without clinging.

From a childhood lesson I learned from my mom about “pressing for the answer” to Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin, I trace how openness, curiosity, and faith can turn apparent failures into forward motion.

Along the way, I draw from Brené Brown’s research on disappointment, Maya Shankar’s reframing of identity after loss, and spiritual wisdom about surrender and non‑attachment—so you can keep trying even when the path changes.

Takeaways:

Recognize when expectations are motivating you—and when they’re setting you up for disappointment
Practice openness and curiosity when a try doesn’t go as planned (and why that matters)
Name and communicate your expectations to reduce “unspoken contracts”
Reconnect with your deeper “why” when your “what” gets taken away
Hold onto faith that trying will lead somewhere good—even if it’s not the destination you imagined.

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How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life; Michael Rucker, PhD on Joy, Burnout, and The Fun Habit – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

In this episode of Life of Try, Wynne Leon sits downwith Mike Rucker, PhD, organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, for a thoughtful conversation about why fun is not frivolous—it’sessential. Together, they explore the science of fun, the difference between happiness and joy, and how intentional habits, agency, and small “pattern interrupts” can help adults reclaim wonder in everyday life. If you’re interested in personal growth, positive psychology, work-life balance, burnout recovery, parenting, and building a more meaningful life, this episode offers practical ideas you can use right away.If you’re looking for practical self-improvement ideas, more energy, better well-being, and a fresh perspective on happiness vs. joy, this conversation offers actionable insights you can start using right away.📘 Order The Fun Habit 🌐 Show notes and more inspiration: https://wynneleon.com🔔 Subscribe for more: Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on: personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.📌 Subscribe & Stay Updated: → https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeoftry?sub_confirmation=1ABOUT ME Hi, I’m Wynne Leon — host of The Life of Try, a personal growth and self-improvement podcast exploring resilience, reinvention, uncertainty, and the courage to keep trying. Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real-life stories, I share insights to help you navigate change, get unstuck, and move forward with more intention.🌍 Website: https://wynneleon.com🎥 Watch Next:➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving➡️ The Courage to Try Something New | Lindsey Goldstein on Growth, Failure, and Reinvention➡️ How to Finally Write That Book You've Been Dreaming About | Writing Motivation 🔗 CONNECT WITH ME:• Website:→ https://wynneleon.com/• Instagram:→ https://www.instagram.com/wynneleon/• Facebook:→ https://www.facebook.com/wynne.leon/