Are You Meeting Your Own Expectations? A Moment With Bill Reflection

A really good answer, full of raiionaltty!

For some of it I take him along. For things like pens, pnlices, cases, markers, binders etc I have him pick out what he likes. For the clothes I go alone, he is only 10 and it will not be long before he insists on picking out his own.;0)

You asked a good question and gave a good answer. Be reasonable with your expectations and do you very best. Then be satisfied. Good read, as always!!

You know, I don't have expectations in my equation. I do the best that I can, and my readers tell me how successful I am. I have evolved a great deal and stepped onto unknown paths. I keep my grin on my face, and tend to watch things from the background. I sit in the branches of the tree, await my avian friends, and laugh at some of the silly things that go on under and around me. I just write, and it spews forth, and I just hit "publish".

Amazing hub. Still not sure what to expect for myself, really.

To answer your question Billy, I am not meeting my own expectations. The answer is rather simple. I can't seem to pull myself away from all of the interesting Hubs people publish here and I find myself continuously distracted. Constantly reading and learning new things has seriously taken a toll over my own daily goals! LOL

I share your viewpoint, Bill. Living life to the fullest (without harming others) is the ONLY WAY to go! Sometimes folks are their own worst enemies.

I remember when Napoleon Hill also said that whatever your mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve. It looks like the same with your concept here.

And I really believe in that. If you have a powerful mind and able to control it, all is possible.

Hi Bill,

Oh how I could relate to this one. I was forever being told I was too hard on myself and could not take compliments. Even today while I have become more realistic with expectations I can still be hard on myself. That mountain at times, as you said, seems scaled only to find it was actually a hill. So true!

Another great article and wisdom from you my friend. Loving ourselves enough will enable us to move that boulder!

Voted up, useful, awesome, interesting, shared!

Bill: I'm chuckling - very entertaining piece filled with some wise words and observations. Expectations - they can kill ya! We all have to find a balance in life - live life, but have enough expectations to make your life a worthy one - a purposeful life. Writers are generally an intense people, but we have to be sure we don't go through life with blinders on. I am heartened to hear when you take a ten mile (or whatever) walk around Olympia, because you broaden your horizon. At the same time, I think I know enough about you that on that walk you are gleaning writing topics from what you see and hear. Nothing wrong with multi-tasking. LOL Thanks for reminding us what is important in life. Great read. Voted up and shared.

Thank you for this. I am a good example of why a person should live a good life. Though I am losing my body, I have my accomplishments.

I think I've stopped planning beyond each day, except for what I have to put on the calendar in commitment to others. I plan what I hope to accomplish in a day within the context of a larger goal, but I also realize every day that I'm not guaranteed another day. I am beyond making long term plans or goals. I do what I can and don't fret if I can't do everything I'd hoped. I'm not so sure anymore life is about doing. I think it's about being.

"Self love is an inside job." How appropriate. I love your video. I love your honesty. I love your writing and the way I am filled with inspiration. I love your "peacefulness" photo. I love you! ~ Audrey

I often, OFTEN have people tell me I'm incredibly hard on myself. But, I have these crazy-high expectations and yes, I get mad when I don't reach them. I get mad and try harder. And harder.

I'm going to have to learn to tame some of those goals. But, I know one thing: I'm not one to complain. I take action. I will not resign myself to a life of mediocrity and if I look back and I'm disappointed in the things I DIDN'T try, then I didn't do well enough. I am proud to say I tried the life of a writer for a year. It beat me up. But I learned a lot: about myself, about life, about what's important, about my own needs. And I wouldn't have learned those if I hadn't tried. Then, the expectations. I expected more of myself. I expected perfection and to be able to make a go at it immediately. No, it didn't happen. It happened on some level for sure, but...I'm actually glad it didn't. Sometimes, when we don't meet our expectations, we find ourselves on a path we didn't know we'd be on...and actually happier for it. :)

So much wisdom here in your hub, and all the comments

given. At this stage in my life, I want to soak up all the wisdom and knowledge that I can find. Just wish I could remember it all! LOL

I wonder if you are pushing that boulder up the mountain just to see what is on the other side of the mountain? Is it about the boulder or is it about the mountain? You can still go over the mountain and feel the rush of accomplishment. No real need to take that heavy boulder along.

When you walk over that mountain, people are going to point

and shout, "Look! That man just walked over that tall mountain. What a guy!"

They are not going to look at each other and ask,

"Do you think he failed because he did not push a boulder over that mountain?"

And, when you cross over that mountain top, you will see over 16 hundred hubbers cheering you on.

You encouragement others.

You have touched many lives.

We appreciate all your efforts.

DJ.

Hi Dearest Bill,

Yes, if we all could just see ourselves as our Lord God sees us, His beautiful creations and loves us despite our flaws and expectations. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. That is a promise He has made, and I claim that promise everyday. This is what I believe, as I believe His Word is pure truth. We are able to love ourselves for He first loved us, if not, we cannot love others, how sad! I do know one truth and that is no matter what we may achieve I this life, for me, there would always be that empty hole inside of us that is never satisfied until we have that personal relationship with Him, even when we are successful in the world's view, which certainly is distorted to say the least.

I am glad you love yourself, as that is how you are able to love all the rest of us : )

We do have to have realistic expectations, but we must never stop dreaming.

Hugs and love, Faith Reaper

Glad to see I'm not the only one with Sisyphus Syndrome. Hope today's boulder roll goes well. :)

Very true words. It is finding the happy balance I suppose. Not too much to fall short from but not little as to lose self with.

The important goals as you so cleverly pointed out; are only the ones which make you truly happy. Of which we aren't talking monetary or published masterpieces.

You produce inspiring and well written work everytime. You should have no doubts that you are definately achieving your tagline goal and in that process helping others.

Anna :)

Another great message Bill. Seems like we are always going uphill or against the tide. Expectations are a funny thing. Whether we meet them or not I think the important thing is to try and have realistic goals to work toward. I try not to worry about or dwell on other peoples expectation for me, I have enough trouble juggling my own life and expectations.

I never know where my expectations for myself will be each day. One day they're too high, another too low, and yet other days they're right in the middle somewhere. Maybe I'm wrong here but ... I bet you if I ever got evaluated I'd be on the list of people with ADHD so if, on any given day, I'm not meeting my expectations for whatever I'm working on I just move on to some other project.

Bill, I love this line:

" I am a spiritual being having a human experience..."

Says it all, doesn't it?

Using baseball analogy, there were days when Dad could've blindfolded me, and I still would have pitched strikes. When the sense of vision is impaired, muscles have a memory all their own.

Then, there were days when I tried so hard to control where that ball was going...and it ended up flying all over the place.

And so one of my life mantras that has sustained me throughout the second half of my life is to just let it go. LET IT GO! I must let the illusion that I could ever have control over things, over life, over destiny...go.

You are one of the most hard-working individuals I have ever encountered in my life. We who experience you as fellow writers, readers, students, peers, and friends not only see amazing expectations--we see diligent follow-through and delivery. Even when you think you fail, you are making an impact in other people's lives.

Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking piece, Bill. See you at the next hill!

~Joe

Are we twins born of different parents? You speak to my feelings of inadequacy. Thank you for another insightful and thought-provoking hub. Loving yourself and loving others is really the key isn't it? When you draw those final breaths I doubt you will regret having written one less story.

Great advice, Bill. Developing realistic and stimulating expectations isn't easy, but you've given some good guidance.

I don't think we are ever totally satisfied with what we do..That would be impossible. After I paint a picture and decide it is finished..I still keep on looking for something I can improve upon. You are working hard, you are a good writer and your words get read.....However, you advice and assistance is always so valuable..Pinning in your pin box.

This was an excellent read. All of us can identify. I heard a sermon recently in which the speaker talked about how all his life he struggled with feeling worthy of God's love (this kind of thing also is about feeling he has any value) because he always had a mental yardstick, and figured God had one too. He knew intellectually God loves us unconditionally because the Bible says so and he preached this as most good ministers do. Here he was in middle age and it was still a struggle. He decided to go on a personal retreat to a cabin up in the mountains to pray and meet with God. In the middle of the night one night he woke up and kind of wrestled with God on this. What he felt he heard from God was, "Jay, you don't need to know I love you, you need to know you're lovable, and you are." At last he was set free of his angst, and he finally accepted that he because he was lovable in the eyes of God, he could accept and value himself. His life and ministry were transformed. He broke his mental yardstick. Once in awhile, like all of us, he feels himself slipping back into old thought patterns, but he knows whom to go to for that.

Yes, we are human, we are flawed, and have a propensity to mess up. Recognizing this in my own life I have learned to breathe a sigh of relief knowing I can go to God for help, because he loves me just as I am and is only too happy to walk beside me and show me how to overcome. Having said this, by no means have I arrived. I can get out my metal toed boots and kick myself silly when I mess up. But I know where to go and I do. For the first time in my life, I see my value not in what I do or don't do, but because my Creator loves and values me because I am his child.

Let's all take our yardsticks and burn them.

Keep pushing the bolder Bill. Tennyson was right. If we do what we can in life and we did our best, then we can say as Winston Churchill once did '' Our consciences are at rest''

Graham.

Bill, another thought provoking write!....I believe that when we know ourselves, know our strengths and weaknesses...know what it is that we truly want, and can focus and work within realistic Constraints we can reach our goals.

As you so rightly said; our expectations should be realistic and achievable.

It seems that the people who achieve the most success in life, are those who do what they really love doing, you could not separate them from what they do, or those who are so doggedly determined that success just seems to follow naturally. However, success comes in different ways, for me, it is a life well lived with few regrets, and making the most of what time I have left on this trip they call life. :)

As always a stimulating read, take care and my best to you.

I'm not sure, but I think perhaps we are kindred spirits. ;-)

I constantly downplay my achievements and inflate my failures. I always remind myself that these are only thoughts and not a reflection of reality. Still, emotions interfere with contentment and happiness, so this is a challenge.

There are several educational kids shows that I like, but unfortunately the message is the same throughout all of them: you can do anything that you want to do (that specific wording is from Blues Clues). The stars of the show (it doesn't matter which show) face a challenge, hit a few bumps along the way, and gain victory in the end. The truth is, you *can't* do anything that you want to do, and sometimes things don't go your way even when you try your best. It's sad, but the self-esteem movement has done more harm than good.

Thank you for sharing your kryptonite, Superman!

Well said Bill, so many of us allow the expectations of others to weigh us down. Or as you said, set personal goals that are unattainable.

Mark

Taking a look at our expectations and reflecting on what we really want IS a way for us to grow and become the best we as individuals can become. My life's goal is really to live every day, to the fullest. Nothing to me is more important than that. Don't get me wrong...I have other less important goals but as with each of us, events have called me to reevaluate what is really of value and redefine what I see as success and I am thankful I have come to that realization

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Billy We are blessed to know. Angels are on the way ps

Billy, my friend, I am familiar with that boulder, except mine is a very heavy empty hay wagon! I guess my grandparents' dairy farm must have something to do with that. Nonetheless, the darn thing keeps wanting to roll back down the hill, no matter how hard I haul on it. I CAN RELATE!

The nice thing about that hay wagon is the realization: what's the worst that can happen if I let it go and it rolls all the way down the hill?

After all, it's just me and the wagon.

Awesomely thought-provoking stuff, as always my friend. You are an amazing person ;) Pearl

Voted Up+++++

I love your last line, Bill. You got a chuckle out of this little girl. I'll keep this short because I want to watch your video. I don't live up to or even try to live up to the expectations of others. My problem is I expect too much too soon from myself and end up frustrated and moving backwards as the result. It's time for reflection and time to be realistic about my goals and allow time to get a handle on each step. That's the only way I'll succeed. I know it. Now I gotta do it!

We all have our moments when we feel like throwing in the towel, then out of the blue we perk up and want to write again, funny how that happens. So many good writers have left HP, it makes me sad. Your writing is an inspitation to keep on trying..Thank you Bill...

You have such high expectations! But that is the way to go if you want to move forward, and mean something during your life. I like the message about loving yourself.

Thanks for another piece, my friend. Have a wonderful day!

~ Kathryn

Fantastic hub, Bill. And to answer your initial question of meeting my own expectations- the answer is no! It could be that I set my goals to high and then each day I raise the threshold. LOL. I love what you said about days when a first grader is your equal. I wrote a hub the other day and for the life of me, couldn't stop making mistakes upon mistakes. Thankfully, I re-read it and corrected them, but some days writing 1000 words takes me 30 minutes and other days, it can take me all day! Thanks for a motivational hub. I need that today!!