Your expectations are powerful. They literally determine how you see the world and what you end up attracting. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of what your expectations are in life. Now, of course, this is easier said than done. I used to struggle with this a lot myself. In fact, I used to have an old belief system that said, “I only have unhealthy relationships; I’m only deserving of relationships that will hurt me.” Etc. And that impacted everything in my life.
But when I shifted that belief system to “I deserve good healthy relationships just like everybody else,” it was like a light switch that suddenly illuminated my thinking. And in today’s post, I want to help you make that same switch. But before we get into the details, it’s essential to know how…
Expectations Influence Your Perception
Scientific studies have shown that your expectations can create a placebo effect. In short, what you expect is what you get. This concept states that your expectations could be major determining factors for your views and beliefs and, as a result, your outcomes in your life. For this reason, it’s critical to monitor and regulate your expectations.
When you allow negative expectations to occupy your mind, they tend to have a ripple effect on your experiences. Science has shown this to be true. Empowering belief systems have their roots in positive expectations about yourself, your life, and your future.
Why You Should Expect The Best
Finding ways to always expect the good and the positive can drastically increase the likelihood of good and positive things happening. It’s this kind of optimism that can open doors that are closed to negativity. But that’s only the beginning; here are a few reasons why you should always try to expect the best in whatever situation you’re in:
- Develops resilience
- Creates a positive attitude and mindset
- Helps build self-confidence
- Enables you to make better choices
- Attracts better people, circumstances, and results
- Helps you deal with stress better, and much more
Keeping positive expectations sets the tone and creates the conditions for better outcomes. As a result, the simple practice of “being positive” is not some pseudoscience nonsense. It is real and can be incredibly helpful in business, family, and life in general.
3 Easy Ways To Shift From Negative To Positive Expectations
Luckily, shifting from negative to positive thinking can be pretty easy when you know the right steps to follow. With that being said, here are 3 simple ways you can start that process.
1. Catch Yourself In The Act
Let’s face it, we’re all human. As such, we can sometimes get caught up in our emotions and allow them to get the best of us. It happens. However, that is not a pass to allow our emotions to hijack our actions. So the first step is to “catch” ourselves when we feel those negative emotions and thoughts beginning to develop within us. This requires a little bit of conscious introspection that can be easily done with the next step, which is to…
2. Ask Empowering Questions
The next time you feel negativity rearing its ugly head, shift your mindset by asking yourself intelligent questions. Asking good quality questions regarding the challenges you’re facing enables you to shift what those experiences mean to you. Here are a few examples of the questions you could ask:
- What’s good about this?
- How is this helping me to grow and become better?
- What can I learn here?
- Who can I turn to for support?
- What lesson can I take away from this experience?
3. Take Corrective Action To Meet The Challenges
Life is not about what happens to you; it’s about how you respond to what happens to you. When challenges arise, your responses to them will determine how quickly and effectively they get resolved. For this reason, it’s critical that you come with the right mentality when it comes to difficulties (whether at home or in your business).
Here are a few ways you can overcome challenges in your life:
- Take time to fully understand the situation
- Ask quality questions that elicit positive responses
- Develop a plan of action to overcome the difficulty
- Ask for feedback/assistance if necessary
- Remain in control (don’t give into the negativity of the situation)
These simple steps will help you to develop a positive mindset and optimistic expectations. As a result, you feel empowered to take proactive actions to meet the challenges you may be faced with in everyday life.
Start Flourishing In Business and In Life Today
While it may not always be easy, holding positive expectations can help streamline life in countless ways. For this reason, it’s essential to remain optimistic regardless of the difficulties that may arise. And here at Certified Flourishing Coach, we want to help you in that process. Whether you’re a coach, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, etc., wanting to create a powerful impact while skyrocketing your income, we can help.
Our team of expert coaches and facilitators use an evidence-based framework for flourishing. And the best part? We’re always looking for new people to join our tribe. So if you’re ready to flourish in business and in life, contact us today to learn more!
About the Author
Abe Brown, MBA, CMCT, CPHSA is the Coach’s Coach, and is an Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, International Best-Selling Author, and High-Performance Leadership Coach. He is the founder of Certified Flourishing Coaching™ and Flourishing Workplace. Abe is also the author of the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Programs.