Today we're exploring how our greatest expectations can lead to our deepest sense of failure and if it's possible to change that.

WHY ARE WE DEDICATING A WHOLE EPISODE TO THIS?

We didn’t think it could fill an entire episode at first but as we recorded season 1 & 2 of The Good Fail it kept coming up. In fact, we realised it was a big factor in how we felt about failure.

WHY SHOULD OUR EXPECTATIONS INFLUENCE OUR FEELINGS?

Our expectations are a big deal for us. Even a small event turning out not as expected can hamper our enjoyment of it. It might seem silly that our foiled expectations have an impact on our feelings but they do.

IS THE ANSWER THEN TO MANAGE OUR EXPECTATIONS?

For the longest time we thought this was the answer. If we didn’t expect anything we couldn’t be disappointed. The problem with this thinking is that by limiting our expectations we also limit ourselves. It also doesn’t stop the disappointment any less. Brené Brown has something to say on this in her book Daring Greatly.

WHAT CAN WE DO INSTEAD?

In theory you should be able to let go of your ego and experience the world purely in the present, where expectations become meaningless. However, we think changing our perspective on the outcome is more doable.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

Know yourself so you can recognise what you’re feeling and why.

Realise that disappointment is inevitable but that shouldn’t curtail our expectations.

Learn to trust that you can handle any situation that may arise.

WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE FROM ALL THIS?

 Our expectations are here to stay, we just need to learn not to let them run the show.

WHAT’S OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS WEEK? 

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

A book that teaches us how allowing ourselves to be vulnerable can help us be happier, stronger people. 

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MUSIC FOR THE GOOD FAIL BY:

https://filmmusic.io "Dreamy Flashback" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)