Expectations refer to our imagination of things. Expectation is the act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen. Reality, on the other hand, is the actual state of things. Reality is the state of being actual or real. Expectations are what we think will happen, while reality is what actually transpires. While we hope these two will match up, they often don’t. This disparity of expectations versus reality can often lead to feelings of discontentment and unhappiness.
As individuals, we all have our own perception of reality. The implication is that because each of us perceives the world through our own eyes, reality itself changes from person to person. While it’s true that everyone perceives reality differently, reality could care less about our perceptions. It is, therefore, important to be aware of the reality regardless of what our expectations may be, because when one’s expectations are not met, it can result in disappointment, frustration, and resentment. Worse, expecting certain things from others can blind us to what they actually can offer us. Moreover, our expectations for our lives may be unrealistic and skewed based on our flawed perception. When reality does not match up to what we had hoped would happen, it can also lead to disappointment.
Expectations can also reduce gratitude in us. When our expectations outpace reality, it often means we don’t appreciate what we do have. Instead, we may find ourselves expecting more or comparing what we do have to what we could have. In some cases, we might become so attached to our expectations that we are unable to see the reality of a situation. This can prevent us from taking actions or making decisions that would be in our best interest. Our expectations can also create significant stress when we expect more than what is realistic in a given situation.
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The ongoing Dr. T. Ao Trophy Inter District Football Championship 2022 can offer us an ideal illustration of expectations versus reality. This tournament is perhaps the biggest sporting event happening in Mokokchung. Apart from being a football tournament, a game we are all crazy about, it is also the first time that all 16 districts of Nagaland are participating in a tournament. This event also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Nagaland Football Association, where Dr. T. Ao was the first president. As such, and quite naturally so, all the teams from the other districts must have had their expectations from the hosts Mokokchung. Here, it is important for all of us to be honest with ourselves because the reality is that Mokokchung has a lot of flaws and is burdened with its own shades of grey. Meanwhile, the people of Mokokchung as hosts, especially those directly involved in hosting the tournament, should give their best for the successful conduct of the tournament without expecting anything in return.
We should not fall into the ‘reality versus expectation’ trap. Apart from promoting our players and the beautiful game, this tournament also offers us a great opportunity to build relationships, to bridge differences, and to embrace each other as one people.