Expectation Vs Reality – The Lifestyle Edition

You know those Instagram pictures that are meant to be ‘expectation vs. reality,’ but are quite clearly posed in both instances? Well, while the ‘reality’ side of those snaps might not be altogether realistic, they do teach us a thing or two about the pressures we put on ourselves. In that sense, the ‘expectation vs reality’ mindset can apply to everything, from your career achievements through to your meditation practice, or even your family life. 

We’re going to focus on that latter point today because, let’s be honest; the reality of family life this last year has looked nothing like the expectations we had for it. And, as mad as it’s been, this lifestyle overhaul has certainly shown the damage that high expectations can have. 

Specifically, the reality of being locked in the house together for almost a year has taught us all a thing or two. It hasn’t always been pretty (hello homeschooling tantrums and sibling arguments,) but it has been a revelation in embracing family life in all its forms. 

Here, we’re going to look at how you can keep those realities in mind moving forward to ensure that expectations don’t creep back in once we’re back into the rhythms of daily life. 

Accept the imperfections

Is there anything harder than accepting imperfections? After all, social media paints this idea that everyone else’s lives are perfect. But, let’s get real for a minute – our lives are not this shining perfect thing, and nor should they be. In fact, once you learn to honour where you are, you can finally see that imperfections can be perfect. That clutter on the kitchen side is the sign of a good meal, and a messy living room is typically evidence that your kids have had fun. Stop fighting it, and you might just find that you feel way more peaceful as a result. 

Meet your kids where they’re at

We all know that piling our expectations onto our kids is bad news, but so many of us make the mistake of doing it anyway. With regards to our homeschooling journeys this past year, especially, excessive expectations have led to halting lessons that are nowhere near where our kids actually are in their educations, leaving them altogether unable to thrive. Instead, it’s vital to meet our kids where they are, educationally or otherwise, using tools like Age of Learning that provide lessons based on their real capabilities, not our expectations for where they should be. This makes for happier kids and a family dynamic that we can all get behind. 

Remember that tomorrow’s another day

When we approach each day with high expectations, it’s easy to get frustrated and caught up when things don’t go according to plan. But, the reality is that today is just a day, as is tomorrow. If things don’t go how you think they will, put it behind you, and embrace tomorrow for the new opportunities, and realities, that it stands to offer. With that mindset, nothing should be out of reach, even if your expectations say otherwise.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.