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How to Break Free from Unrealistic Expectations for Inner Peace and Serenity Part 1 of 5: Overcoming Unrealistic Expectations
One of the most disruptive patterns I discovered in early recovery was that I had all kinds of unrealistic expectations — of myself, others and the world. Since this was such an enormous part of my recovery, I’m doing a five-part series on overcoming unrealistic expectations.
I’d heard well before recovery, “expectations are premeditated resentments,” but I had no idea how to NOT have expectations! I just couldn’t wrap my mind around that — how do you live in the world and not have expectations?! Here’s an example from my own recovery journey to illustrate.
At the time I started recovery, I’d worked for my boss for many years. I loved her dearly, and she drove me crazy! I now know that the vast majority of my issues with her were because of my unrealistic expectations.
I couldn’t count on her because she frequently didn’t do what she said she was going to do. She didn’t follow through, and she incorrectly estimated time for just about everything. There was not much she said she was going to do that I could count on.
The thing is, that’s what she was like since the day I met her.
