"Expectation Management" is a Dangerous Fallacy

If you shoot for the moon and miss, you'll still be among the stars...right? Perhaps. But refrain from offering this "advice" to anyone, including yourself.

If you shoot for the moon and miss, the stars are irrelevant. You missed. Do not make excuses for yourself or blame anyone else. Most importantly, continue to take aim. Give it another shot rather than lingering in the vacuum of space. 

Dreams cannot come to fruition if cop-out quips crafted to avoid failure become realistic, acceptable alternatives. Ambitious goals often have missing pieces, and we struggle to identify what those pieces will be. So, the idea of "landing among the stars" becomes more appealing than admitting uncertainty about the future. Don't be deceived; reliance on unplanned success is irrational.  

Many dream big, only to be told to temper their expectations. Ironically, our most trusted agents are often the ones who oppose our dreams the loudest. They cite their logic, care, and concern, but will not empathize with our purpose and desires. Fear of the unknown is not a sufficient reason to apply temperance to goals. 

Do not waste your precious time on ill-informed ideas from those who do not share your vision; it's a risky endeavor. Instead, learn to master how you move into the future and interact with the unfamiliar. Confront setbacks and temporary defeats willfully. 

Targeting greatness is intentional. A distinct and purposeful reason draws your aim. No part of a meaningful purpose includes an accidental result. So why tell ourselves that anything other than our intended aim point is tolerable?

Failure's dread cripples even the most capable. Failure has a tendency to invite hopelessness and erode self-respect. Acknowledging a momentary defeat does not mean we must concede to sorrow and discouragement. But affirming the defeat promotes accountability for the decisions and actions that led to the loss. Exploring the depth of errors should not cause anxiety, but refine the way forward. 

Fear is the antithesis of confidence. It highlights our inadequacies and shrouds our grand vision. Confidence encourages us to trust in our abilities and fuels the motivation needed to pursue goals amid setbacks. Each conviction - fear and confidence - commands its own gravity. One is dense with laziness and hesitation, the other with enthusiasm and imagination. Who we are, how we think, how we feel, and the way we behave defines whether we are fearful or confident. 

Our characteristics define our nature - the core of who we are. Traits are billboards open to interpretation. They are projections of our character that advertise our behavior, our thoughts, and our emotions. Attributes are unique applications of our characteristics and traits toward our ventures. 

Investigate the characteristics, traits, and attributes coincidental to the lack of success. Seek to maximize potential within them that further leads you to greatness rather than capitulating to challenges. Use purpose to insulate your core, your mind, and your heart to prevent despair from governing your decisions following failure. 

Expectation management is a catchy tagline used when genuine words of encouragement are aloof; mere delusions of grandeur incapable of being managed. Don't listen to them. Prioritize effective time management over expectation management. Timing is critical to regulating your characteristics, traits, and attributes successfully. Learn to identify when you are vulnerable while pursuing your purpose and goals. 

The transition from what you think will happen to what actually happens holds the highest risk of distraction and disappointment. Be mindful that the scale of time for each goal is different. Track the time from your plan's inception, through manifestation, to its completion. It is within the delicate spaces between each phase that you need to manage yourself - not your expectations. Are your characteristics, traits, and attributes resonating with your purpose, despite hardships, as your plan unfolds? 

Temptation to submit to failure will present itself the moment you encounter unforeseen deviations. Be courageous and do not listen to the devil on your shoulder telling you that "landing among the stars is okay". Temperance is hardly virtuous if it is used to repress aspirations. Do not dilute ambition because of a failed attempt; mitigate fear through meaningful repetition and self-regulation.

The next time you're tempted by "expectation management," use an alternative strategy. Use your purpose to chart your course. Replace the concept of an "expectation" with "confidence". Subdue fear through meaningful repetition of the tasks needed to achieve your goals. Measure results along the way. Manage the changes necessary, over time, to realize success. And when you encounter setbacks - because they are coming for you again - keep reaching. 

Encourage yourself and others to buy into purposeful goals. Learn how to adjust characteristics, traits, and attributes before, during, and after failure; seek continuous improvement in these areas. ​Triumph awaits you when you stop managing expectations and start managing yourself.