While I am out for the next couple days (and for a couple days after that) Chris Nichols volunteered to write up a daily attitude series.

Thank you, Chris.

Hello everyone! I came across an excellent article written my Marc Chernoff at marcandangel.com called 7 Things You Should Stop Expecting from Others. I particularly like this article because my largest stressor is unreasonably high expectations for myself and others. These seven insights helped put things in a different perspective that helped me, and will hopefully be beneficial to you.

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations
and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”
―Bruce Lee

The biggest disappointments in our lives are often the result of misplaced expectations. This is especially true when it comes to our relationships and interactions with others.

Tempering your expectations of other people will greatly reduce unnecessary frustration and suffering, in both your life and theirs, and help you refocus on the things that truly matter.

Which means it’s time to…

1. Stop expecting them to agree with you.

You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about. Don’t let the opinions of others make you forget that. You are not in this world to live up to the expectations of others, nor should you feel that others are here to live up to yours. In fact, the more you approve of your own decisions in life, the less approval you need from everyone else.

You have to dare to be yourself, and follow you own intuition, however frightening or strange that may feel or prove to be. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t get discouraged by their progress or success. Follow your own path and stay true to your own purpose. Success is ultimately about spending your life happily in your own way.

You need to like you for you. Stop trying to keep up with the Jonses. Once you are comfortable and confident in your own skin you will find that you stop reacting, and start living.

Chris Nichols