Expectations… and What We Do With Them

Let’s talk about expectations for a minute.

Most of us don’t even realize how much they shape our day.  There are some days when things actually fall into place and your day lines up with your expectations BUT all too often we wake up with a picture in our head of how things are supposed to go - how we’re going to eat, when we’re going to work out, what we'll accomplish… and then life happens.

Something gets in the way. We run out of time. We get tired. Plans change. And suddenly it feels like the whole day is off kilter.

I’ve been there more times than I can count.

But what I’ve noticed is this: it’s not usually the plan falling apart that throws me… It’s the expectation that it shouldn’t have gone that way.

When we expect everything to go smoothly, any interruption can feel like failure. But what if we started expecting real life instead? Busy days. Low energy days. Unexpected changes. What if those aren't signs that things are going wrong… but just part of the process?

Because they are.

The people who keep it going aren’t the ones with perfect days. They’re the ones who have learned how to move through imperfect ones with a sense of peace.

My father in law was one of my favorite people ever! One of his favorite sayings was, "Don't panic, adjust".

Maybe your workout doesn’t happen the way you planned or at all. Maybe your meals aren’t exactly what you intended. Maybe your energy is low, and your motivation isn’t there. That doesn’t mean the day is lost. It just means you’re living your reality.

There’s something incredibly freeing about loosening your grip on how things are “supposed” to go.

You can still move your body, even if it looks different from what you planned.
You can still make a better food choice, even if the last one wasn’t great.
You can still take a minute to pause and breathe, even in the middle of a full day.

Those small decisions still count.

And honestly, they’re often the ones that matter most.

I think one of the healthiest expectations we can carry is this: I’m going to keep going. Not because everything is going smoothly, but because I’ve decided this matters.

For me, bringing God into my day makes a big difference. Sometimes it’s just a quick prayer before I start something or a quiet reminder that I’m not doing this alone. It helps keep everything in perspective and gives me a sense of direction when I’m not sure what to do next.

At the end of the day, expectations can either weigh you down or help you stay grounded. It all depends on what you’re expecting.

So maybe today, instead of expecting everything to go just right, you give yourself a little grace and keep moving forward anyway. When things don’t go as planned, don’t let it take you out of the day. Just pause, reset, and choose your next step forward!