The Trap of Expectations

Are expectations good? Many times we hear competitors talk about saying that they expected to win or they expected to do well. Why should you expect to have a good outcome? Because you had a good week of practice, you have more talent than your opponent, or your desire to succeed is unmatched? If that is your thinking, then you are falling into a trap of expectations. When you expect to win or expect to play well, what you are really doing is taking evidence of the past and merging it with a hope for the future, creating a story in your mind that you simply cannot live up to. As a result of not living up to those expectations, you get frustrated earlier, become more judgmental, and lose your grit and resiliency.