To Hell With Your Expectations

Years ago, one of the first principles I learned from my coach at the time, Steve Chandler, was to transform expectations into agreements. This practice alone has had the most profound impact on my life— shifting it from one of constant disappointments and simmering resentments to one of ease, peace, and lightness. Strong words, I know. But true, nonetheless. You see, most of us live in expectations most of the time. We expect our parents to talk and act differently. We expect our romantic partners to know exactly what makes us feel loved. We expect our bosses to show their appreciation in the way that feels right to us. We expect our co-workers to support us in what is obviously the “right” way. We expect our children to do as they’re told. We expect our friends to approve of our actions.