Expectations

“Expectation feeds frustration. It is an unhealthy attachment to people, things, and outcomes we wish we could control — but don’t.” ~ Steve Maraboli 

It’s not a bad idea to hold ourselves — and others — to higher standards. Striving for “the best” is a worthy goal. But unrealistic expectations often result in disappointment.

For instance, how many times have you tried a popular new restaurant, only to end up disappointed when your meals fell short of the rave reviews you’d read? At the same time, if we always expect more from other folks than they’re able to give, we’re bound to feel letdown at some point. As Anne Lamott put it, “Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.”

Sometimes what we want isn’t available to us. Or what we expect to achieve — weight loss, for instance — doesn’t happen as quickly as we want it to. It all boils down to managing our expectations. What do you expect of yourself? What do you expect from others? Are your expectations realistic, fair, and reachable? ~CL