Expectations vs Results

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Were here again, another year begins, and I can’t help but notice the hope and expectation that is floating around. Everyone is so captivated by what they hope to accomplish in the next 12 months and it’s amazing to see.

I remember a time when I would be so excited to set goals for the year. I had so much hope in the possibility of growing more as a person in one way or another. I also remember a time (ie the beginning of 2021) when the idea of setting goals was somewhat of a fear, possibly because of the unpredictability of the year 2020. Two things were common in these two time periods. One, I knew that goal setting was a good thing to do. And two, I had a limited view of the possible results of the goals I had set.

It’s common for us to have expectations at the beginning of a new time period (week, month or year). Mostly because we have this feeling of starting on a clean slate. It’s like a new beginning, a second chance.

Sometimes, however, expectations don’t always translate into results. There’s a lot of in betweens that we have no control over that determine whether we will or will not achieve our goals. And sometimes we can be as optimistic as we want about what we wish to happen, but things just don’t work out. It’s a tough thing to grapple with but it happens.

As a person who is somewhat obsessed with productivity and getting stuff done, I have failed enough times at my attempts to get the results I want, and I’ve had to get to a place that allows me to be okay with even the things that don’t work out. This doesn’t mean I’ve lowered my expectations with regards to my goals and ambitions, it just means that the result is not the only thing I’m focused on.

I think sometimes we as humans can be so fixated on the results that we miss the pure novelty that exists during the process. If you think about it, it’s funny that we do that because most of our learning and developing happens in the process. The results are a mere by product of the process. Whether we succeed or not at a particular goal has a lot to do with what happens during the process of attaining that goal.

If you would allow me, I’d suggest that the process might be the most important part of achievement. The result, if good, is fun to look at because most of the time it’s what we look to as the reason for pursuing what we’re pursuing. But the process gives meaning to the result, the process shows us how far we’ve come.

The means give significance to the ends.

At a time like this when everyone has their plans for the year laid out, I pray and believe for the success of each person reading this. You’ll come to find that success does not only come at the end but at every incremental level of learning and developing that you unlock.The immediate results may not be what you expected but in due time you’ll come to realise that everything that you’ve learned in the process adds meaning to your results, whatever they may be.

All in all, I wish you the very best as you chase your goals this year. But above all else, regardless of the outcome, I pray that you enjoy the process.

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Hey! Happy new year to y’all ! I just want to say a huge that you to all of y’all that read this blog last year. I am grateful for every one of you. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store … Be sure to leave a like and a comment. See y’all in the next one !

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