As I approach my birthday in September, I have been spending a lot of time focusing on identifying tactics I need to apply for the next chapter of my life. And, I have discovered something very important that is tied to my happiness and peace of mind.
“Peace begins When expectation ends.” – Sri Chinmoy
Expectations = Enemy
As a Virgo, I walk around with the highest expectations for myself and others. In theory, that sounds admirable but in reality, it is a very emotionally taxing way to live. People ultimately don’t live up to my high standards and they end up repeatedly disappointing me. There are so many times you can keep getting disappointed before looking inside to identify the common denominator of your life (YOU).
Why I had to Change My Ways
If you can’t control the actions or behaviors of others then it is up to YOU to make changes in your life to achieve your goals. Personally, having high expectations has caused me to deal with the following:
- Lose sleep
- Use food to “eat my feelings”
- Walk around with frustration
- Develop resentment
10 Ways to Choose Joy over Expectations
#1 Choose reality over your expectations
#2 Identify the root cause of your expectations
#3 Assess how your expectations are hurting you
#4 Identify negative people or circumstances driving you to hold on to your expectations
#5 Eliminate distractions getting in the way of you being able to release from your expectations
#6 Celebrate every time you successfully release from your expectations
#7 Don't be afraid to ask for help on your journey
#8 Share your journey with the public - your story will inspire others to follow your footsteps
#9 Use every teachable moment to propel you forward
#10 Believe in yourself and your ability to release from your expectations
