Keep High Expectations, Avoid Disappointment!
Have you ever wanted to see a movie and some of your friends got to see it first? They rave about it! Best movie they have seen in years, such amazing acting, the plot was brilliant...and the expectations are set. You buy your popcorn, find the best seat, and get ready to be blown away by an amazing cinematic experience. How you view this movie, now depends highly on the expectations you have set in your mind for it. If they are high then the movie may disappoint. Your friends had a completely different experience of the movie. Same Movie, different expectations. The movie is a minor issue and holds low levels of emotional attachment. What happens if the expectations are set high for a first date, child's birthday, anniversary, job interview, presentation, and the list goes on. The high expectation combined with high level of emotional attachment to the outcome creates a volatile situation. If the expectations are met then it is a huge success and cause to celebrate! If the expectations are not met for any reason, then there is huge disappointment.
I have known people who have openly said that, because of past disappointments, they keep their expectations low to avoid disappointment in the future. In fact, I can think of times that I did that very thing. The problem with lowering expectations is that it has a direct relationship with your motivation. Low expectation = Low motivation. If we don't have the expectation to achieve then we don't try as hard.
So how can we keep our expectations high and avoid disappointment?
When our expectations start taking form we need to add two additional ingredients that will help us avoid disappointment, and those two things are grace and flexibility.
Grace- In the past few years I have realized the benefits of giving myself grace in life, as well as extending it to others. We are human and because of that we are not perfect. We make mistakes, and great intentions do not always produce great execution. Grace is the ability to love yourself and others in the midst of imperfection. You set those expectations high, but if you don't achieve them you learn from it and try again instead of beat yourself up.
Flexibility- Flexibility is the key ingredient for the uncontrollable's in life. Sometimes our high expectations are not met because of things far beyond our control (life is full of those things). You plan for a beautiful outdoor wedding, and in the midst of the dry season it pours down rain! These things will happen from time to time and your expectations may be missed, but if you can roll with it and still find joy, your life will always have a silver lining!
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." -Les Brown
High expectations create growth and achievement so Shoot for the Moon, and learn from the journey even when you don't reach the destination!
- Cheers to the One Amazing You