Managing Expectations in Life
Good times, and bad times, we all have them. Whether the duration is a day, or even a year, we all know what it’s like to ride the wave of excitement and achievement, or on the flip side, slide down the tunnel of anxiety and disappointment. Some may call it a string of good or bad luck, but really, it’s just a part of life, and there is no way to avoid it. We’re told to enjoy the good times, and endure the hard times, because nothing lasts forever. After all, change is the only constant in life.
The evidence of change is all around us. Friends come and go, languages evolve, and industries change (and new ones emerge)! Even though we understand that life, as we know it, does not remain static, it can actually be quite challenging to maintain this perspective on a daily basis. After all, daily life can be more routine, and sometimes, mundane. Many days are neither good nor bad, they simply run according to plan, and there is a level of comfort in that. For this reason, it can be easy to dwell in the negative, or bask in the positive, and project it onto the long-term view of our lives, and that’s why managing our own expectations is so important.
In life, we are all going to experience tough times. It’s so easy to get down on yourself after going through a layoff, or a breakup, and in turn, believe that you will never land another job, or fall in love again. In difficult times, when feeling overcome with negative emotions, it’s best to take a pause and reflect. Of all the jobs in your field, or single people looking to make a connection, there are bound to be a few that would be a fit for you! Adopt an abundance mindset and trust that better days are ahead! Change is coming, and with that change, the opportunity to achieve your goals and shape the life you truly want.
On the other side, if your hard work has landed you a bit of success, perhaps even fame or fortune, you may be tempted to overspend and assume a lifestyle upgrade. In these times, you should, of course, enjoy your success! You’ve worked so hard and it’s finally paying off. At the same time, it would be a good idea to practice restraint and strategize on how to maintain success long term. One of my favorite quotes by Peter Drucker says it all:
“Success always makes obsolete the very behavior that achieved it. It always creates new realities. It always creates, above all, its own and different problems. Only the fairy tale ends, “They lived happily ever after.”
Ultimately, it’s key to remember that, good or bad, your current circumstances do not guarantee a future outcome. So stay the course, maintain an abundance mindset, and focus on learning and growing regardless of how well things are currently going. Nobody wins or loses forever, and I say this as a Cubs fan. It might have taken 108 years, but they did eventually win the World Series!
