Expect more. Stop lowering the expectations of yourself until you’re no longer disappointed with the outcomes.
The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological phenomenon where high expectations of others lead to better outcomes. In other words, people tend to want to live up to what others think about them. This is important in business, in relationships, and as a parent. The same holds true for the expectations we have for ourselves.
Nobody likes to be disappointed. Feeling let down is an emotion that none of us like to feel. So instead of feeling that way we tend to lower the bar so low that we can’t help but to meet it. This causes us to settle for less than we actually want. Yes, it protects us from depression and that feeling of being let down but it doesn’t give us the life we used to dream about. It causes us to settle because it’s easier to move the mark closer than it is to figure out the reason why you missed what you were aiming for in the first place.
That is why I want you to expect more. Expect more because you are more. Expect more because you can have more. Start expecting more of yourself but first you must get comfortable with the idea of missing your mark from time to time. Missing your mark means that you have an opportunity to grow. Missing your mark means that you’re alive. The only way to be truly comfortable in life is to never step out of your comfort zone, to never risk anything. Risk your feelings and set your bar a little higher. Stretch who you are by expecting more of what you could be.