expect less

Chances are, I would make an awful self-help guru. Tony Robbins and his contemporaries will likely hold a public shunning upon reading my new mantra for this upcoming school year.

My mantra is:

        ~ expect less ~

Brutal, right?

Where’s the set-the-bar-high pep talk?

Where’s the you-can-do-anything-you-set-your-mind-to encouragement to help others over the 8 months of hump-days?

Where’s the return-on-investment for my employer?

What kind of educator are you?

Step to the back of the queue, Negative Ned’s and Nellie’s!   I have set my mind to ‘expecting less’ and it is my intention to experience more peace this year by doing just that.

Read on, MacDuff!  Just getting to the good part.

Imagine it

What would it look like if I went through my work day of supporting students, collaborating with colleagues, problem-solving with parents and facilitating meditation classes all while ‘expecting less’?

I imagine it would look something like this…

• Less wishful thinking that others can read my mind’s manifesto on how things ‘should’ be done.

• • More clear, direct requests for what I want.

• Less personalizing when situations still don’t go my way even with clear, direct requests.

• • More acceptance of all outcomes whether or not they fall within my way of doing things.

• Less soul-sucking over-efforting to drive up my number-of-people-pleased stats.

• • More doing the task in front of me with integrity and authentic presence regardless of who is watching.

• Less compulsion to efficient task completion as if someone is literally waiting at my door for results.

• • More doing the task in front of me with integrity and authentic presence regardless of who is waiting.

• Less obsession with results. And even less obsession with the mythical, perfect results.

• • More focus on making eye contact, taking a breath before speaking and listening, listening, listening. (Then way more self-care for balance!)

• Less complaining.

• • More expecting less!

• Less frantic, externally-driven movement.

• • More internally-driven, deep-breathed pacing.

• Less reaction.

• • More response.

• Less performing.

• • More presence.

By the way, I will also be expecting less from you. Great news for you.

Bring on the busyness of a new year.  

My mantra and I are ready for you!