Are you the kind who expects too much or too little in life? Well, experts urge to strike a balance noting that it’s imperative for anyone to always set realistic expectations for themselves and their career, in this case. For instance, Gabriela Mukashema, a youth mentor based in Rubavu District affirms that for any individual with dreams, it’s important to be realistic about not only what they have achieved in the past, but also, be practical about what they can do in the future. To her, problems are bound to come in when people make the mistake of setting expectations too high or too low. What to put into consideration Mukashema says when it comes to setting goals, it’s important to set them and put effort into how to accomplish them on time. Just like how people are different, she says each institution and workplace is different, and that it takes effort to find the right place for everyone. If you let unpleasant experiences control your thinking, this can be an obstacle to your success. Besides, she goes on to highlight that it’s essential for one to always be persistent and keep a positive attitude always. “Remind yourself that there are many things you do well and most importantly, spend time with positive people who support you and your efforts,” she says. As a human being, Mathias Nkeeto, an educator says if your expectations are too high, this will automatically create limitations. The best way, however, he says, is keeping things practical. He notes that it’s also ideal to examine the expectations of self, strive for growth and improvement, but keep in mind that setting a goal that is achievable is important. “From my experience as an educator, I can attest that trying to get everything done perfectly all at once will definitely prevent you from taking consistent action toward your goal. On top of this, it will also leave you feeling depressed and disappointed in your abilities,” he says. Also, he says just like setting realistic expectations for others, when you put all of your hopes and dreams into the outcome of a specific event; you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Instead, he advises that one should try to enter into events for the value of the situation, not for the outcome one hopes to produce. This he says helps release one’s expectation of events. In addition to this, he cites that it’s important for one to as well stay focused on what attracted them to participate in a specific event or situation, apart from potential outcomes. For instance, he believes this can be achieved by making a list of all the positive things one can gain from the experience itself, and what emotions it could bring to your life in general. For Christopher Mugisha, an entrepreneur, it is essential for one to define their goals, noting that there may be a long-term goal you have in mind but the best way to accomplish them is by breaking it into smaller and more manageable goals. He mentions that setting realistic expectations actually helps one grow and become more flexible. Also, it helps us embrace the messy moments. On a different note, Mugisha says it’s vital for one to change their perspective if they are the type of people who do everything all at once in hopes of quickly improving how they feel. “This is like cheating yourself because it’s even unrealistic to imagine. Rather than get all of these things done right now without being intentional, instead, one should use the one-day-at-a-time mentality, and see if they can get more out of what they are trying to accomplish,” he notes. “Doing one thing at a time with purpose will give you clarity about what you are trying to achieve in your recovery. Know your limits, which means that you cannot agree to everything, nor can you try to complete everything all at once however much you want to do it all,” he adds.
