"Don't get your hopes up, that way you're never let down."
How about, "Get your hopes up, have standards, go after what you want even if you are let down because that's life."
I'm not sure when it became such a bad thing to have standards and try so hard to avoid being let down. This is one of the many things wrong with our society. We are afraid to be let down or let ourselves down so instead of making these big elaborate dreams for ourselves, we are setting our goals low so we're not disappointed. Ridiculous. Do you know how many times I've heard, "I'm expecting no better than a 'D' that way if I get any higher, I'll be surprised"? No, no, no, no. You try your best on that assignment and expect a good grade and if you do worse than you thought, that guilt is there to push you farther. Why are we so obsessed with taking the easy way out?
We need standards, we need to know what we deserve for all our hard work and all that we put out there. I was raised to believe that I can do anything if I put my mind to it and if I fail at something, I can always improve. It is not easy at all, to believe that you should have high hopes especially when it feels like everyone just disappoints you, but you also must get it through your head that that's life.
I see it the most in friendships and relationships, that people lower their standards for too many people. Why should you apologize for having high standards or why should you apologize for not wanting someone who doesn't have a future? We all deserve better than that and if these people begin to disappoint you, do not accept that, but instead leave them behind and continue to keep your standards high. Unfortunately, it is true that not everyone has the same heart, but that does not mean that we should expect less than what we deserve. Therefore, I will never allow myself to hope for something. If I end up being disappointed, I will learn to come to terms with it and if I end up not being disappointed, I will enjoy every minute of it.
When getting my hopes up comes into play with my schoolwork, when I try my best, I expect one of my best grades. I will not lower my expectations just to appease myself for when and if I get a C on that test. A bad grade is a sign to tell you that you need to try harder or do something different with your study habits. It grinds my gears when someone expects less of themselves and doesn't try to change anything if they are making the grades they'd like to have.
Moral, do not think any less of yourself and know what all your hard work deserves. So don't encourage people to not get their hopes up just to avoid seeing them be upset, instead encourage them to try their best and be there for them if they fail.
