Unmet Expectations
This summer, I chose not to blog. I made a conscious decision that I would focus on spending time with my two teenage daughters (which I deliciously did) and coaching my existing clients. Come the beginning of school, I told myself, it would be my time to focus on ME, to rev up my business and move in the directions that called to me.
School began, and I happily set off on expanding my coaching business. That is, until last week when my oldest daughter got sick and had to be picked up only minutes before a client appointment. This can’t be, I inwardly railed. I had that line in the sand. Summer – time with the girls. Fall – time for my business. School had started and clearly my daughter hadn’t read the fine print (all in my brain) about how this was supposed to work!
As I drove to school, frustrated at this breech of agreement, it suddenly dawned on me. By setting up my unreasonable expectation (when school starts, it’s time for ME), I had unconsciously become rigid and drawn a line that couldn’t bend with life’s natural circumstances. Not only that, but I realized that my upset was not because I now had to adjust some work plans (my client was fine with the change). My upset was because of my negative thoughts about my plans being changed. Once I realized that, I was able to let go of the negative thought and felt better in an instant.
As you go through your day, notice what expectations you have set up (consciously and unconsciously). What happens when they’re not met? What would happen if you let go of your vision about how something is supposed to happen and instead embrace how it really does happen? Are you willing to trade in your “plan” for a little more peace?
