It’s our expectations that kill us.
Our expectations of ourselves that hold us back from trying something new, something that we might fail at, or allow us to beat ourselves up… and we give up too soon.
Our expectations of others that disconnect us from each other. Our expectation of others to understand, or know what we know… and we get unjustifiably angry.
Our expectations of how our work will be received. We think it should be revered, or received well, we think we should be compensated and rewarded, and when it’s not we quit too soon, and our product doesn’t launch, isn’t shared, and doesn’t help the person it’s intended to help.
Ryan Holiday writes, “It’s far better (and more resilient) when doing good work is sufficient. In other words, the less attached we are to outcomes the better. When fulfilling our own standards is what fills us with pride and self respect. When the effort—not the results, good or bad—is enough.”
It’s our expectations that kill us.
Do great work, and let it be perceived how it may.