4 Ways To Deal With The Pressure Of Meeting The Expectations Of Others

Most of us feel pressure every day to meet the expectations of others. Whether it’s things like finances, work, school, family, or social life, there are an overwhelming amount of expectations. Sometimes you do need to meet those expectations - such as accomplishing tasks as work or getting good grades in school. But, a lot of the time, you don’t need to let yourself feel that pressure from others. 

You should make sure you focus on meeting your OWN expectations above all else. Sometimes your own expectations actually align with the expectations of others, and sometimes they don’t. Only do what aligns with YOU.

People-pleasing can be very harmful to your mental health. You have to understand the difference between doing things for others vs. doing things for yourself. You need to be prioritizing yourself over making sure others are pleased. That means having some ways to deal with the pressure and to help make sure you’re only doing things YOU align with.

Put Expectations in Perspective

Be more mindful about the expectations of yourself. Identify if they’re yours, someone else’s, or both. If it’s only someone else’s and not yours, remember that you don’t have to meet them in most circumstances. If they are your own expectations for yourself, remind yourself that you’re in charge of how to approach them and how you make yourself feel about them. 

Make sure to know your limits. If things don’t go as planned, make sure you take time to take a step back and put things into perspective. This mindfulness and intentionality will ease the pressure.

Communicate

This isn’t an easy one, but it’s the one that can make the most difference. Talk to those that are putting excessive pressure on you. Is it a parent, a partner, a coworker? Whoever it is, come up with an approach for vocalizing how you feel. Let them know how you’re feeling and try to find another solution to meet those expectations without the unnecessary pressure. Sometimes you just need extra support. Sometimes, those people may not even know they are causing you to feel this way. It’s important to take this as a first step to guide the rest of your path.

Practice Gratitude

Remind yourself of all the things you have already accomplished. Celebrate ALL yours wins. Spend time daily writing down what you are grateful for in your life, no matter how small. When you start to have negative feelings, focus on the good. This will help you keep things in perspective when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This small strategy will help you keep a positive mindset, which is necessary for coping with stress. 

Let Go

Last but not least, learn to let go of certain pressures and expectations. Of course, this is easier said than done. But once you master this, you’ll feel so much more peace. Let go of the feeling of not wanting to let others down, especially if it means letting yourself down in the process. It’s important to let go of what isn’t necessary for your own mental health. Accept it for what it is and learn to be okay with not meeting every expectation.

There are so many benefits of learning how to cope and manage the pressure of meeting the expectations of others. You will lead a less stressful and more peaceful life. It’s not necessary to please everyone if it means you will suffer in the process. Prioritize yourself and your own wellness above all else. Understand that a lot of expectations aren’t realistic - and that’s the other person’s problem, not yours. Only focus on what YOU can control.