Decisions in December Series Post 1: Expectations vs Reality

What you see is not always what you get...

When traveling, you tend to see a picture of some place incredible and think "I want to be there."  A serene mountainside, a quiet lake, a pool on the end of a cliff.  Picture after picture shows you incredible views that leave you with a longing to go.

And you can't wait.  You make your plans, back your bags, and decide to go.  You're going to have a piece of that peaceful spot in the world.  You're going to take pictures and they're all going to be perfect.  You'll be able to look back and reflect on the luxurious time you had.

Great expectations.

​But is it the reality?

The one where it was cold and windy, to sweaty, to chilly, all in the same hour.  Hair a mess, clothes a mess.  Yep, there are those moments.

Or the one where it rained all day.  It was cold and wet and there was just no getting a break from it.  Those were some great pictures.

And the random ones.  The ones you would never post because you don't like the way your face looks or your hair or whatever it is that you're looking at.  So many of those pictures are in albums.  Pictures no one would see because we only post our expectations.

​It's slightly misleading.

We live our lives in expectations.  And as we make our way through December towards the new year, it's really a good time to stop and reflect on them.  As we approach four years post COVID, and a world that has started again, it's really the time to look at our expectations. 

What are your expectation?

​Who do you have expectations of?

Family?  Friends?  Co-workers?  Students?

And what expectations do you have on yourself?

Change is the only constant in this world.  And if we don't expect ourselves to change over the course of time, we are limiting ourselves to growing and learning.  However, just as you are changing, so are others.  And if we don't shift our expectations of others and ourselves, we simply become constantly disappointed.  

We tend to live only in the perfect pictures.  We only see the things that we want to see.  And we miss out on the reality that, well, everything just isn't perfect.

We're not suggesting lowering your expectations.  That comes out a lot when people are asked to reflect on expectations.  The thought is you should just lower them so you aren't disappointed. 

That's neither helpful nor productive.  

Instead, start with you.  This December, start with the expectations you have for yourself and embrace the reality you live in.  Every picture doesn't have to be perfect.  Every day doesn't have to be perfect.  In fact, a lot of the days may be less than perfect.

That's ok.  The pictures in between the imperfect one tell the story of the reality.  The everyday.  The moments that are still amazing, and wonderful, and good.  Even if they don't meet an expectation of the perfect picture.

When we travel, we hold a lot of expectations for both ourselves and others.  We have expectations to make certain times, have what we need, and be prepared for our travels.  And then we adjust.  We embrace the reality that we are really not in control of every minute of every day.  We cannot change the outcomes of situations that come before us.  We can't change the weather, or a delayed train, or any of the other million things that could happen.  If we hold the expectation that every trip and every moment will be picture perfect and the experience of a lifetime....

We'd be constantly disappointed.

Because that's not the reality.  That's not the reality of life.  Every day holds the promise of great expectations being met, while other expectations are left unmet.  We adjust.  We regroup.  We reset.

So start off December by embracing the reality.  It may be tough.  It may not be exactly what you want.  It may be a picture you want to delete (or hide in a box in the back of the closet for those of you that use to do that)

But embrace it.  See the reality.  And set your expectation of starting 2024 off right.

We're setting our expectations high for you.  You've got this.  

There's an incredible picture waiting for you.