I dropped all expectations…

I dropped all expectations, except the ones I was willing to communicate.

And when I did, life became full of more surprises and less disappointment.

I noticed recently that I was getting more annoyed with people for seemingly little things and so I do what I always do when something is brought to my awareness- I look at it.

What was it that was leaving me so short tempered? Why was I struggle to relax and just be?

My expectations.

I have high standards for myself and these are different than the expectations I was putting on other people. And as I looked at each time I had been annoyed, it was because someone had not met my expectation…

But did they know what I actually expected?!

Had I clearly stated the expectation in a way they understood?!

Nope!!

Here I was waking around annoyed that everyone wasn’t doing what I wanted them to do and I hadn’t even had the curtesy to tell them what I expected- oops!!

Fortunately, I gave myself a bunch of grace, asked for forgiveness over my salty attitude and decided to be better.

For me, I don’t allow myself to keep any expectations I am unwilling to communicate. (Obviously, I sometimes need reminding of this).

For instance, if I don’t communicate with my kids how I expect their room to be cleaned, I can’t be mad when they don’t clean it that way. Or if I don’t clearly communicate how I receive love from my husband, I’ll struggle to feel like he loves me.

Sincerely,

A recovering control freak