“Act with an expectation to be great and do well. Your results will follow. ”
Dealing with expectations is a topic especially close to my heart. Have you ever felt disappointed or upset after the interview? Or maybe because the promotion that you wanted to get so much was given to someone else? Or perhaps your job search is taking too long, leaving you feeling upset, hopeless and doubtful thinking “If it was meant to be, it would have happened by now … !?” The root cause of most disappointments, upsets and frustrations is an unfulfilled expectation.
“Successful people don’t lower their expectations, they raise their performance and learn to manage the reactions to the lack of desired results.”
You see, it is common to hear “To avoid disappointment, don’t expect too much!” However, if you expect too little, you may also just get “too little”. Feeling disappointed, upset or hopeless are normal emotions. They will usually appear when your expectations did not materialise as you imagined. Nothing else, nothing more. And it certainly does not mean that your expectations cannot materialise in the future. The key to moving forward is to learn to recognise your emotions and manage your reaction to an unfulfilled outcome. Manage your reactions and attachment to the outcome. Take a break if you need to relax, but do not give up nor lower your expectations. Stay focused.
Step #24 coffee break exercise:
Think about your dream job and list down 3 situations which did not go well for you. Look at the outcome of these situations. Can you recognise any of these emotions (upset, disappointment, frustration)?- Look at these situations again but this time expect a better outcome. What can you do differently next time?
- what can you do to transform your disappointment or upset?
- what else would you like to try that can bring you closer to achieving your goal?
- who can you call to talk things through without worrying to be judged.
- Share about your discoveries with your buddy. Supporting each other will help you find your dream job and it’s fun to do it together.
*Haven’t got a buddy but need the support with your job search? Feel free to join our FB group and share with us.
Can’t wait to read your comments and tips. What helps you to overcome your upset or disappointment? How do you feel about expectations? Drop a comment below …
Comments
I definitely agree with you! There is a fine line between what is reachable and what is way too far out of our grasp.