Expectations

Expectations. That is a word that has many meanings. Its a world that comes with its own set of expectations. Expectations upon expectations. It can be a completely scary thing, it can crush you under its weight or it can drown you in its deep waters. It can also make you rise to the occasion, reach them, exceed them, or destroy them. Expectations are a double edge sword though. Here is a story i have shared a few times but it is the best way i can explain these feelings.

When i was 16 years old, i was a hockey player. I loved it, it had been my first love. My father bought me a cigar and said that when I get drafted, we will smoke it. Reality was, though i had the passion for it, i wasn't quite good enough to be drafted. So the cigar sat. We said when you get into college Ill smoke it. That time came and I didn't deem it worthy of the smoke. Then when i scored my first touchdown in college we would light it. That wasn't good enough. Then college graduation. Nope. Then when i got engaged, nope. Then when i opened my first business with him. Still not good enough. To this point my expectations, though high, were being accomplished but the cigar sat.

I am with a number of very successful people from the Max Muscle franchise system last night sitting at dinner talking and I tell this story. The first thing i hear from everyone is a resounding "smoke it as soon as you can". I am appalled off the bat because i felt i needed an epic moment to smoke this. I mean EPIC, i dont know what that includes, maybe curing cancer or creating world peace would suffice. Then as we continue the talk i realize what that cigar represents. It represents all my fear, all my lack of confidence, everything I am scared of resides in that cigar. It is the epitome of my faults. That cigar i was "using" as my motivation was and has always been a hindrance to who i could become.

Yes, it is just a symbol but the moral of the story is you cant be the best you if you have your fear and reservations holding you back from reaching your potential. I know, as I sit in my hotel room, I am looking forward to starting my life over when i get home and smoking that cigar. Don't let the expectations fold us. We can overcome all obstacles put in front of us. One of my favorite sayings is "God wouldn't put anything on our plate we can't handle. We let ourselves crumble under it when we have the capability of lifting it up off of us." I know i can be the best me and i am the only one who can hold me back.