Manage your expectations

Everyone remembers the story of the little train that could. The refrain “I think I can” is so simple and yet so effective. Despite the ‘obvious’ obstacles to our goals, if we think we can, we ultimately can. And if we don’t try, then we definitely cannot.

That little train had to address two issues. One was allowing himself to want more. The other was believing he could do more. Often people think that they should keep their goals within a “realistic” range. We believe that if we keep expectations to what seems possible, we’ll never be disappointed. In reality, by limiting our goals, we never fully realize what we can accomplish with that extra bit of push and motivation to satisfy ourselves. By erecting a glass ceiling, we satisfy our need to reinforce our positive image of ourselves. We set a goal and we are responsible enough to achieve it. However, if that goal is less than ambitious, we are curtailing our abilities to stretch further and do so much more. In the short run, we are cheating ourselves, and in the long run we’ll eventually realize it and shatter all notions of our positive self image.

We have to be willing to face our mistakes along our journey and give them their appropriate weight. A setback is no indication that the goal should have been set closer. Rather, we no have learned one of the ways that we will not get to our goal and we adjust accordingly. It is this continual adjustment of our approach which allows us to surmount obstructions in the road and make it farther than we would have previously dreamed. All the tools to achieve what we want are within us. We just have to believe that we have the will, ability, and perseverance to see our trials through.

Keep your personal expectations high and you'll keep amazing yourself with what you can accomplish.