64. Well, What Did You Expect?

What expectations do you have of your students? Of your partner? Your family? Your friends? Yourself?

I expect my kids to be polite. I expect my students to listen to me. I expect my partner to remember my birthday. I expect my friends to be on time. Sound familiar?

What happens when your expectations are not met? How do you feel?

The problem with having expectations is that they are all about other people. They often originate from a place of wounding, fear, and lack. We impose expectations because we think they will prevent us from being let down. But, in so doing, we relinquish our power to another person. We hand them our happiness and hope they don't drop it.

And, while awaiting the outcome of the expectation, we put ourselves in emotional limbo.  "If you meet my expectation, I'll be happy. But, if you don't, I'll be disappointed. In the meantime, I'll sit here in limbo, not knowing what to feel."  It doesn't make much sense, does it?

But, if we don't have expectations of people, won't they walk all over us? 

Today, as always, I invite you to examine the stories and beliefs you have about expectations, and I offer you an alternative. I invite you to play around with it, try it on, see how it fits.  And, if you like it, and/or find it helpful, please consider leaving a review, to help share it with others who might find it helpful as well.

LINKS
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Teaching Little Brains Facebook Group

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