Every single one of us wants to feel determined and motivated to reach our own personal goals. We want to feel a sense of accomplishment within our personal and professional lives. This leads us to create goals and expectations for the things we want to succeed in. And while expectations, whether on ourselves or on others, do have their benefits, like creating a pathway to achieving the things we most want in this world they can sometimes be detrimental to our health and our path towards success. Because in most cases, we set them to be so unrealistic and feel like we’ve somehow failed when those expectations aren’t met.

There are clear expectations we make in our lives, expecting something of others and expecting (usually a lot) of ourselves. In both cases, managing these expectations comes with a ton of work and requires transparency and honesty within yourself and the others in your life. Naturally we find ourselves attached to these expectations and the outcomes we so desire to come true that when they don’t happen or look different from the way we planned them, disappointment sets in and you’re left with the feeling that you’ve lost control. 

When you set expectations for yourself personally, it’s crucial you become realistic with your time and your goal setting. Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. Ambition is a wonderful quality to possess, you also need to find balance and allow yourself the time to efficiently work on your goals in a manner that doesn’t leave you in a hurry and skipping steps. You also need to make sure you feel comfortable navigating a shift or change within your goals and that if your timeline changes or your plans are going down a different path that you can easily adapt and not fret about the changing course. All you need is to take a breather, absorb the new changes and if it’s necessary, reframe your expectations. 

If you’re trying to manage others’ expectations, it’s vital you aim to be as clear and concise as possible with that other person so that no detail goes unnoticed or forgotten. Transparency is key and honesty can get you a long way. It’s important to ask for help when needed and not to feel like you’re on your own. With other people in the picture, the goal is collective and it’s ok to ask for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed. That kind of honesty is usually welcomed and appreciated. 

Once you understand the role that expectations have and how to manage them to your advantage, you’ll be well on your way to exceeding your expectations along with the expectations of others. Just always remember that you can’t fill someone else’s cup until you fill your own. 

Try and learn the balance of hard work and self-care and create realistic goals that don’t make you feel overwhelmed or stressed. Enjoy reaching your goals and create an atmosphere where you appreciate the work that you do. Expectations and goals will be met naturally from there.