Do you have high expectations for yourself and/or others? Is this a good thing or not?
As an educator, high expectations for self and others was generally found to be a good thing--when we expected more, we generally achieved more with our own efforts and the efforts of our students. Yet, too high expectations for self or others can be defeating. As with all things good, there is a balance to be had--a right level of high expectations.
How do you gauge the right amount?
At school, I always defined this as the dance you do with students--you push a little, see how they react, and then push more if the students are eager and ready for the challenge. Yet, if students rebuke the push, then you pull back, re-examine, and refine the expectations at a better level.
The same is true for you. If your expectations are on target, you're probably energized and making good progress, but if your expectations are too high, you're likely somewhat defeated, depressed and not making progress. You want to create expectations that energize you and lead you to good achievement, not the other way around.
I'll be thinking about this today as I evaluate expectations for self and others--I'll likely do some fine tuning in this area of life. Onward.