GO Month: Mental Clutter - E
Let's celebrate Get Organized (GO) Month by ridding ourselves of mental clutter from A to Z!
To celebrate Get Organized (GO) Month I'm doing a series of posts on the mental clutter that can be just as pervasive as physical clutter. For each letter, I'll talk about a mental stumbling block that often impacts our well-being.
Let's focus on E ... Expectations
Expectations are considered predictions of how we want things to go. They can seem pretty benign, but many of us hold unrealistic expectations. However, the biggest unrealistic expectation is that we shouldn't have unrealistic expectations. Remember, it is part of the human experience!
Unrealistic expectations can be unhealthy in a number of ways. They assume a level of control that we don't really have in a given situation. They can also be rigid with no room for changing circumstances or flexibility. They can often be unattainable and interfere with our ability to see what truly matters to us.
One of the biggest issues of having unrealistic expectations is that we often don't realize that these expectations fail to motivate us to act. It's actually the opposite. Our expectations can be so limiting and narrow that we avoid participating in challenges or taking risks because of past history of perceived failures. See, how expectations can work against you?!
Ways to combat this thinking include:
Keep compassion for yourself at the forefront - think how you would treat a wounded child and apply that mindset to yourself
Be sensitive to changing scenarios and allow for flexibility
Ask if the expectation is working for or against you
Question if the expectation is helping you be your best self
Ask what you would lose or gain by letting go of this expectation
"Don't raise your expectations too high.
It's the surest way of being disappointed."
Mary Louisa Molesworth
Here's to freeing ourselves from the mental clutter of unrealistic expectations!
Please share with someone who needs a clearer mindset.
featured image by Free-Photos from Pixabay