Expectations...

What do you expect from yourself?  Do you expect great things from yourself?  What do you think others expect of you?  Do you allow the expectations of others to dictate how you live your life?  Think about your answers to those questions.  I mean really think about them.

I am going to rewind 4 years in my own life.  I lived my life to fulfill the expectations of everyone around me.  I gave of myself to satisfy everyone else to the point that I ran myself into the ground.  I put unrealistic expectations on myself because of allowing everyone to speak into my life and tell me who I should be and what I should do.  I was not putting my own real expectations on my life.  I was living for everyone around me.  I was left exhausted and unrecognizable to myself.

I was trying so hard to fit into this perfect little box with a pretty bow tied around it.  That is not me.  I have opinions, goals, dreams, frustrations and so much more.  You wouldn't have known that though because I kept a lot of it to myself.  There was a conversation that forever changed how I live my life.  I asked someone close to me what my dreams were.  I asked them very detailed questions about the person I really am, not the person that looked like she had it all together.  This individual could not answer my questions.  I remember how empty I felt when I realized that even the people who should know me the best had no idea who I was or what I wanted out of life.  I had spent so much time trying to be who and what every thought I should be that people didn't know me anymore.  I had let the expectations of others pull me so far off course from me and my aspirations.

I have learned to expect more from myself, in a good way.  I no longer live to satisfy the picture everyone else has of me.  I will not apologize for being me.  I have let the person inside come to the surface, and I love her!  I have made a promise to myself to never let the expectations of others dictate my life or dim my light ever again.

It's time to tear away the expectations of others and start expecting great things from yourself.  Break out of that little box or at least untie the bow for starters.  Let yourself be seen.  No more hiding behind other's expectations.

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