Breaking Free from Expectations
Anxiously HUMAN
It’s not others expectations holding you back, it’s your own…
No one can impose anything on you unless you allow it. Read that over again. And again. Now the important piece of the puzzle to ask yourself is:
Why are you allowing it? Why is their opinion or expectation of you louder than your own?
It starts out as our parents or caregivers. We want to make them proud, we want them to think highly of us. So we strive to make that happen and in the process, we often ignore our true calling or passion.
Well that sucks, and will lead to a life of disappointment and unfulfilled dreams.
But you want to be fulfilled and make your folks or whoever proud, right? You want to wake up every day with a fire in your belly and your heart full. I will tell you a little secret…
YOU CAN HAVE BOTH.
What?!?!? I know what you’re thinking…
What if my passion or career choice isn’t acceptable to my parents or people I care about? What if the person I love isn’t who my friends and family would like for me to be with?
Well, then let them adjust. And they will. They will adjust once they see how happy you are, regardless of their initial opinions or judgment. It might take months, it might take years. Hell, I won’t lie to you… if you have rigid, selfish parents or friends that don’t truly love you…
THEY MAY NEVER COME AROUND.
You have to remind yourself of one very important truth, which is indisputable:
Anyone who truly loves you, truly wants you to live a happy, fulfilled life…would never impose their will and their “plan” for your life on you. Each of us has only one responsibility, and that is to find what and who brings us true fulfillment.
It’s not going to be the girl or guy who “looks good on paper” or puts on a great social front for the parents and social circle. It’s not going to be the 9–5 corporate life-sucking job that everyone thinks is great, but meanwhile makes you miserable 5 out of 7 days of the week.
It’s going to be the person who sees your potential and pushes you to it, even if you’re kicking and screaming. It’s going to be the guy with the tattoos that mom hates (oops). It’s going to be the one all your shitty friends don’t like because she sees through how shitty they are.
It’s going to be that business that everyone told you is RISKY. It’s going to be that crazy idea for a product or service that no one supported you on in the beginning, but you know is gonna blow up.
THAT IS TRUE FULFILLMENT.
Doing what people expect of you and adopting their expectations as your own will never bring you to that place. It will lead to a few other things though:
- Resentment
- Regret
- Self-loathing
- Rebellious behavior
- Self-sabotage
- Self-destructive behavior
- Substance abuse
- Depression & anxiety
None of those sound positive, am I right? Well that is the life you’re heading towards if you don’t get everyone out of your head!!
Deep down, you know what you want and what is going to fulfill you.
Even if it’s shoved down in your subconscious because all the expectations from everyone else is smothering it. You may have to do a little soul searching and exploration to find it, but it’s there. You owe it to yourself to find it and pursue it.
Just remember, you were born for a reason. You were given this life for a reason. And I assure you, it was not to live by others rules and expectations. If anything, that is spitting in the Universe or God’s face (whatever you believe in).
LET THEM ALL GO. FIND YOUR VOICE AND YOUR FIRE OR PASSION.
Maybe you had it as a kid and it got buried. Maybe you think about even now but you’re scared to disappoint people or squander other opportunities. Don’t be.
As always, I appreciate your time and attention. Please subscribe here to have the blog sent directly to you weekly. Much love…now please go LIVE your life.
xo…G
