Set Realistic Expectations & Change Circumstances – Tips

We’ll be talking about realistic expectations the next few posts. First, back to my old, reliable friend dctionary.com:

Realistic – resembling or simulating real life (a duck hunter skilled at making realistic decoys).

Expectations – degree of probability that something will occur (little expectation that he will come).

So you could say realistic expectations would be “the probability that something will occur in real life” – such as the goals you set for your business or the likelihood that this 147^th fitness goal will be the one you achieve. 🙂 Here is a list of tips around the concept of realistic expectations, and being able to be grounded and avoiding extreme swings.

1. Set realistic expectations for yourself, as well as what you can realistically expect from others in your life.
2. Keep your realistic goals to yourself. Sharing them makes you less likely to take action and accomplish them.
3. Be honest with yourself when it comes to assessing your strengths and challenges.
4. Accept your limitations and minimize their affects by modifying your expectations and methods to accomplish your goals realistically.
5. People aren’t mind readers. Tell people specifically what they need to know. Be kind but blunt. Ask and answer questions, as needed.
6. Things make you smile for a few seconds. Your mindset makes you happy for years.
7. Don’t entertain the idea of changing others. It’s their job to change themselves.
8. Map each action it would take to achieve your goal
9. Assess your commitment level if you aren’t willing to make the sacrifices required to meet your goal, the expectation or goal may need to be adjusted.
10. Refrain from expecting others to achieve goals based on your skills and experiences.
11. When in doubt, set expectations a little too low to encourage improvement.
12. Base expectations on similar events, activities, or experiences from the past.
13. Re-evaluate your goals and expectations as you grow and achieve success.
14. Expect meeting your ultimate goal to take time and practice.
15. Create a method to measure your progress expectations to help you achieve success.
16. You have power over bad situations. You can choose to change it or stay in it. Choose wisely.
17. The most effective way to change your circumstances is to change your mindset.
18. Starting on the wrong path only means it takes you longer to reach your destination.
19. Sometimes you have to make the opportunity instead of waiting for one to come to you.
20. Changing and overcoming difficult circumstances empowers you to do great things.
21. When you change your disposition, your circumstances will also change.
22. The most meaningful changes begin within. Change those first to see outward results.
23. Even the smallest changes can trigger the most profound consequences.
24. Don’t put your trust in your circumstances, where you are; but in yourself, who and what you are within.
25. Your circumstances don’t define you. They reveal character strengths you developed.
26. Don’t compare your circumstances to others. You cannot know all they’ve been through.
27. You can choose to be a result of your circumstances or of your determination.
28. Regretting past situations does nothing for your future. Making better choices can change everyone’s future.
29. You can’t change the past. Sometimes you can’t change the present, but you can change the future if you start working on it now.
30. Change is constant. Get accustomed to adapting to change. Knowing how to adapt successfully will get you through everything in life.