Letting Go of The Expectations

So often, we get this idea in our head of who we’re supposed to be. Maybe it’s things we were told or were expected to be as we grew up. Many times, it’s what the culture tells us is ideal. Sometimes the expectations are placed on us by others, but a lot of times, it’s things we put on ourselves.

Trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect mom, the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect employee. Striving for the ideal job and the right clothes and an amazing house and the perfect weight and the awesome car and the Instagram-worthy vacations and the kids who are always well-behaved.

It’s exhausting. Not to mention, a recipe for failure. And a facade because no one’s life is as perfect as it might look from the outside.

We feel guilty for not measuring up. We feel bad for letting people down. We feel like failures because we can’t do it all.

So in the spirit of authenticity, I’ll just tell you that it’s a struggle for me. I like to be in control. I want things to go my way, and I get frustrated when they don’t. I get mad at my husband sometimes, and I yell at my kids when they misbehave. I get overwhelmed and cry in my office on bad days. Sometimes, I just call it quits and go to bed at 8 PM. Or I ignore my work and binge watch Netflix.

And even though it comes completely unnaturally for me, I’m working on embracing my imperfections and letting go of what I’m “supposed” to be. 🧡