This is Day 2 of 31. Click here to see the entire series.
Realistic expectations
I decided I need to live with the realistic expectation that I will never be superwoman.
I have a lot of roles.
I think many of us have a long wish list of what we'd like to accomplish, how we hope our appearance would be, and what reactions we want to see from our husbands when we not only have dinner on the table BUT we spent four hours making organic pasta from scratch and fresh tomato sauce from your 3,200 square foot garden.
And you never. get. any of it.
If I spend all day cleaning and organizing laundry, the dishes aren't done. If I spend three hours at the gym, we order pizza for dinner. If I spend the entire day outside, engaging with my kids there is always a basket of socks waiting to be paired. There's always more.
YOU JUST CAN'T WIN!
Or can you?
Even if I did accomplish everything on my list, couldn't there always be more that wasn't on the list at all? More homeless people to feed, more scripture to memorize, more marathons to run..
Maybe the problem isn't my list itself; maybe the problem is my attitude about the list.
I realized the reason why I was always so dissatisfied with myself was because my expectations were unrealistic. If I want to be intentional about my day, my attitude, my self worth, I need to be realistic. I can't control other peoples reactions, I can't spend 3 hours at the gym every morning, and I can't spend $50 on a months worth of groceries for a family of four.
When I have unrealistic expectations of myself I waste time and energy dealing with frustration and disappointment. Time and energy that I need to put towards everything I am accomplishing, instead of what I'm not.
Do you have certain expectations?
How do you feel when you fall short of your expectations?
Thank you following along on our journey to simplicity. Please be sure to learn about our family, like our page on Facebook, and visit the right column to subscribe to our posts :)
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians 4:12
God Bless!
Definitely understand this! I am constantly trying to do more, and always falling short. More recently I have been trying to back off my to do list, and work on one thing at a time. It looks more like a very long list that gets checked off once in a while :-)
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I set my unrealistic goals for myself all the time.
ReplyDeleteI need to be better at setting more realistic goals for myself so they are obtainable. Thanks for posting about this!
You are a great mama, Rando :)
DeleteThis is exactly what I'm focusing on for my blog challenge. Being realistic when you have so much you want to achieve is hard- especially when you wear so many hats!
ReplyDeleteLove Letters 7.10
YES! Wow, you are preaching to the choir. I always feel like I should be Superwoman even though I know intellectually that it's just not possible. And you're absolutely right that there will always be something else added to your list...it never stops.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to focus on being "Good Enough" Woman instead of Superwoman. I'd rather get things done imperfectly than not get things done at all.
sagegrayson.com
I keep being drawn to the mentality of being "the best version of ME" instead of "the best version"...
DeleteGood enough feels like I'm falling short still. Doing MY best means I accomplished exactly what I was supposed to :)
Well put, all of it...self-expectation's a doozy, isn't it? I look forward to walking with you as we figure out how to live realistically AND fully at the same time...
ReplyDeleteI love this post :-)
ReplyDeleteO my goodness yes!! This is what I am coming to terms with as well! Being a mom is hard work :)
ReplyDeleteI think you and I are cut from the same cloth. I have just recently come to this realization myself. I just wrote a post where I talked about how I am no longer going to believe the Supermom myth. I am hanging up my cape and my mask and no longer going to play dress up because no matter how hard I try, I will never be Supermom. :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have said it better. I think we all feel like this from time to time. I know that I would be much more satisfied with myself if I were just a tad more realistic in my expectatios of myself. I think you are Superwoman Beth!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to be a supermom, and I've always put unrealistic expectations on myself. I'm trying to do better in this area - glad I found your series!
ReplyDelete