How many times have you been hurt, disappointed, enraged, or stressed because of the disparity between your expectations and what actually happened? Creativity is a natural part of our DNA. And when we set out to accomplish a goal, we expect it to go exactly as planned. Do you recognise this?
Finishing my degree is on my agenda.” There will be a stampede of firms waiting to work with me. I’ll go with the one that pays the most. And then I’ll be very wealthy. “Honestly, she’s one of my favourites. We’ll go out for a while. We’re all moving in together. Become legally wed. She’s going to want four children. We settle for just two. Invest in a beachfront vacation home. Boom. “A happy life is a good life.”
“I’ve got a fantastic business plan.” I’ll go out and get some money. Build the product with the help of a few people. We’ll make it available to the public as soon as we can. It will be covered by the media. I’ll make it to the small screen. “Then I’ll put it up for sale.”
There will be a few videos I’ll put together. Make a YouTube video of them. People are going to spread the word about them. I have high hopes that one of my videos will become a worldwide sensation. My participation is also confirmed. When you’ve got it, show it to me. Is there a chance that any of these scenarios will actually happen? I’m not sure exactly what you mean. My guess is it’s somewhere near zero. Please know that I’m not criticising your aspirations. It’s always good to have a little pragmatism on hand. High hopes rarely come true, so it’s not a good idea to have them. What’s the point of having them at all?
The damage they cause is far greater than the benefit they provide. While completing my MBA, I was secretly rubbing my hands together all the time. I had hoped that all the multinationals would be eager to hire me, but it didn’t work out that way. Because of my background in marketing, I naively believed that I could launch any business and make it a financial success. However, when I earned my degree over six years ago, the economy was in a state of crisis. Only a few of my classmates, friends, and acquaintances were hired by large corporations. The rest had to settle for low-paying jobs because the options were few.
My first business venture was a successful one. That, on the other hand, was not exactly aesthetically pleasing. The company was entirely self-funded. For the first three years, I earned enough money to cover my living expenses. That was the last time I said goodbye to my lofty goals.
Don’t misunderstand: I’m not saying you shouldn’t set high goals for yourself in life or have high expectations for yourself. They’re good things. In terms of timelines and outcomes, however, you should not rely on your imagination. It’s not a good idea.
Be prepared to be disappointed if your expectations aren’t met. Expecting the worst and being pleasantly surprised is a great feeling. To put it simply, psychologist and author Barry Schwartz sums it up best: “Low expectations are the key to happiness.”
This, of course, isn’t brand-new knowledge. We all know that setting ourselves up for disappointment by having unrealistic goals is a waste of time. Why are they still around? We’re still on a never-ending quest for more. Likewise, when you desire more, you demand more. Do you see what I mean? In order to change your expectations, you must also change your desires.
Is it possible to get the most out of life if you’re not constantly striving for more? “That doesn’t make any sense. “Things in life don’t always follow logical rules. Here’s the thing: When you want more, you have a wider range of choices. Why don’t you tell me what to do? Is there anything else I can do? Are there any ways I can make more money? No? Then why not? “How can I spend more time with my family? ”
It’s generally not a good thing to have more choices. More than that leads to disarray. Anxiety and regret are often the results of confusion. Have you ever had the thought, “What if I chose the wrong path? “In other words, more isn’t always better. What’s wrong with a 0.1 per cent increase in GDP?? Or do you prefer less money but more free time? Yes, but I’d rather have it all!”
We’re finally making progress. Why settle for less? Even if it’s not, I am not denying the possibility. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen to you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and don’t expect too much from yourself. Also, don’t put too much pressure on yourself or others. There is no such thing as a perfect person. There will be times when you will be let down by others. And so, on and so forth. You don’t have to be a pessimist about it. In the absence of expectations, you are able to see things as they really are. Don’t wish for a better situation. Improve them.
A beacon of positivity in a noisy world. I can’t thank enough for these insights