Realistic Expectations

When I joined the Army in January 2008, I was 20 years old. I was coming out of very active school years and a labor intensive job. I thought I was fit. After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I was in the best shape of my life. I had put on muscle and was feeling great.

In April 2008, I graduted basic training and relocated to Fort Sam Houston, Texas. It was there that I met my husband and quickly after getting married, we found ourselves expecting our first child. This also would become when I developed unrealistic expectations of myself.

With two back-to-back pregnancies, my body went through a lot, physically and mentally. My boys are only 15 months apart so I spent their early years exhausted and was just trying to survive. I ate what I could and when I could. I truly gave up on myself and stopped thinking of myself as anything other than “Mommy Bear”. My husband, Lee, would ask me to go to the gym with him but I always had an excuse. I honestly didn’t want to go because I knew just how much work it would take for my body to get back to what it was before my pregnancies, what it was like during my time in the Army. I had set myself up to fail by having an unrealistic expectation.

Fast forward to 2020, I still find myself battling my inner thoughts and unrealistic expectations. For one, I’m no longer 20; shocking, I know! I’m no longer in the Army. Since those days, my body has given me the gift of motherhood twice. Quite frankly, I have grown since 2008, and I am not just referring to my waistline either! I have battled a lot of health issues in recent years. My new realistic expectation is getting healthier, exercising regularly, and eating better. I want to be active with my boys. I want to look good for my husband. I want to he happy. This new expectation will still take work. I can’t fool myself but I can be more kind in my thinking, providing the encouragement I need. I may not get to where I was in 2007 but this journey will help me be stronger than ever before, mentally and physically.

What is your unrealistic expectation that you may have for yourself? How can you adjust your thinking so that you are striving toward your goal? Having a big goal or dream is important. You can break down that goal or dream into smaller goals as milestones. After all, you can eat an elephant one bite at a time.

I’d love to hear what you discover about yourself. Take that unrealistic expectation and turn it around. What is your updated goal? If you need an accountability partner, I am here for you!