While attending a workshop in Sedona, Arizona, over the next few days, I am sharing a few of my favorite blogs.

Today’s blog is from my friend, mentor, and coach, Jennifer Barley. Here she gives us another take on expectations than I provided in Monday’s blog. How do you think expectations serve you and limit you? How possible is it for the answer to be both?

How we show up for one thing resembles how we show up for everything.

We carry our beliefs and attitudes everywhere with us. If we are looking for trouble, we find trouble. If we expect a conversation to go badly, it usually goes badly. If we enter with an air of exploration, we explore. If we are focused on incompetence, we find incompetence.

Basically, we are just trying to prove ourselves right. By doing so, we get the ego boost to say, “A-ha! I was right . . . this is so lame. . . so amazing. . . so beneath me.” Fill in the blank.

What you expect to get out of a situation usually comes true. The question is–why do you have so many expectations? How do you carry those expectations into various situations? How does having expectations actually cause disappointment?

If you are constantly disappointed, how are your showing up? If you are skeptical, do you focus on the things that aren’t measuring up?

It is so easy to default to focusing on the negative–why things won’t work, how you wish they were different, how other people annoy you–the list can go on and on.

What if you showed up with no expectations and just experienced the experience. No judging if it is good or bad. No ranking on where it falls. I mean, really letting go of expectations.

Where is one area you could let go of expectations–and truly be an observer without judgment? It could change how you show up . . . for everything.

Jennifer Barley is a Professional Certified Life Coach, public speaker, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) instructor, author and former award-winning Weight Loss Leader.

It is Jennifer’s strong belief that every person can create whatever life they choose and she partners with her clients to make it happen. She has a strong talent for motivating, inspiring and adding humor to every situation.

Jennifer works with clients one-on-one, in workshop environments, and through online tele-classes. As the KickStart Coach™ Jennifer is committed to providing the support, encouragement, accountability, and motivation that her clients need to get inspired and get in the game.

You can learn more about her at www.jenniferbarley.com and read her blog at http://blog.jenniferbarley.com