The Danger of Expectations

Audrey Rindlisbacher Podcast

"Expectation is the root of all heartache." ~William Shakespeare We all set expectations--it's just part of our human nature. In fact, we are so accustomed to creating expectations, that we often don't even know we have! Here's the problem--expectations can be dangerous! Why? Because expectations create a standard that we begin to believe must be met. And even more dangerous is the fact that much of the time we want others to meet the expectations we set! How can we overcome this? How we can set goals and plan for the future without letting unmet expectations upset and discourage us? Join Audrey this week as she walks you through what expectations are and what they are not, why they either hurt or help us, and how we can take control of ourselves and our lives while remaining optimistic and hopeful! Listener's Guide: Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast. 2:47 Audrey's Homeschool Journey and Family Culture 6:10 Audrey's Motivation to Homeschool 8:21 Unrealistic Expectations, Self-Judgement and Comparison 14:35 Focus on the Process and Enjoy the Journey 16:31 Expectations Are Not Goal Setting, Visualizing, or Personal Outcomes 17:18 Question One - Why Am I Doing This? 19:44 Question Two - Who Am I Doing It For? 23:14 No Regrets 25:04 Creating Our Own Internal Upset 27:25 The Last Battle 26:47 Audrey's Challenge Quotes from this episode: “Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour." ~from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself." ~from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte “I have no right to tell other people how to live their lives. I only have duties I need to perform; I have a conscience I need to obey. And I have one person, Audrey, who I am responsible for completely. I have got to make her the best she can be.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I made my own education a huge priority, and through that education, I gained tools and learned about principles and was able to fashion my character to a high degree.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I have greater influence with my family and others because I know how to love better.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I have made new resolves to be very careful about the beliefs I adopt--to be very careful about the people I listen to and very careful about the expectations I set.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I can't expect anything from anyone. They don't owe me anything. What I can do is envision and be full of faith, hope, and intention about what I am creating.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “I see how distinctly different having a vision and holding that and moving toward pre-determined goals is from expectations. When I envision, I am in control of me and what I am creating for my life. Expectations usually involve other people, and I can't control that.” ~Audrey Rindlisbacher “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” ~Shakespeare Books from this episode: Links from this episode: