As an almost 20-year-old person, I’m not a girl not yet a woman (Thanks Britney Spears and whoever gets this reference). I realized that basically everything in life revolves around expectations.
You try on those jeans in a 25 because they look like they’re stretchy, but you are really a 27, and you can’t get them past your knees. Your expectation is that somehow from the time you get from the pile of jeans to the dressing room, you will have dropped two jean sizes. Unrealistic.
You go on Tinder because, yes, you have literally hit that low point in your life, and guys say absurd things to you but you’re hoping you’ll find someone decent. Unrealistic.
You get back to school in the fall and try and convince yourself you will NOT eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s while watching "The Bachelorette" every Monday. Very unrealistic.
Really "basic" examples, but if you can relate to ever having a high expectation and being let down because of something you didn’t do or something someone else didn’t do, you know that it sucks. Recently it seems that a lot of things aren’t living up to my expectations. My summer plans, my paychecks from my summer job, relationships with people, etc. etc.
You may have had a similar feeling or feelings. Not getting a good grade on your final even though you thought you would, thinking your internship would be glamorous while you’re just getting people’s coffee. These can be really disheartening feelings.
However, after a lot of self-reflection I have come to this conclusion:
Just because things/people/experiences aren’t meeting your expectations does not mean you should lower them. It just means that you know what you want. As challenging and upsetting as it can be to be let down by something or someone, it doesn’t mean that you need to change who you are or what you think you deserve. It means that you have to be confident and patient enough to know that your standards or goals do not have to be lowered. You just need to be patient and work hard and eventually everything will fall into place.
The most important piece of advice I’ve ever been given is to “Be in the driver’s seat of your own life.” In a sea of cliché sayings about life, I really think that this is the best one I’ve heard. The quote not only reminds me of "Talledega Nights" and Ricky Bobby, but it talks about taking complete control of your life. If your standards or expectations were low, the quote may have read, "Sit in the passenger seat of your own life" or something.
Seriously, just imagine yourself driving through life in that Jeep convertible you’ve always wanted. Instead the quote urges you to not only be in control at the moment, but control where the moment is going as well. It’s all about having high expectations and standards and adhering to them always, in order to propel your life in a positive direction. Because life is too short to be anything but happy and fulfilled.
