Expectations

Today I was thinking about expectations - those we put on ourselves, those others put on us, and those we THINK are imposed on us but are actually derived from our own minds.

I don't believe it's wrong to place expectations on yourself... within reason. If you're going to demand success, then at least make it achievable. I'm guilty of placing unrealistic expectations of myself. What happens next is that I fail miserably and I berate myself for it.

As for those others put on us, there definitely needs to be a line we draw to protect ourselves. We need to be able to say, "Hey, I can't measure up to that" and feel comfortable fighting our cause. I've discovered managers are usually the ones to demand the impossible. It's been a lengthy learning curve for me to be able to stand up to said managers in a firm but respectful way. Too often we burn ourselves into the ground striving and failing to meet what those people ask of us.

However, I think the most crippling expectations are those we believe to be imposed on us but are actually a truth we've created ourselves. From personal experience, I know this can be deadly to your well-being. Instead of clarifying what the other person wants from you, you ASSUME their expectations. If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's never assume anything. The reason being? 99.9% of the time you're incorrect.

Expectations are a finicky thing. Tackle too many, and you'll wind up defeated. Don't place any, and you'll never have the chance to grow or enrich yourself. Find the balance - that's the key. Mind you, I haven't found that key yet. But I'm determined to search.

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