How often do we have high expectations for the people in our lives, but greatly underestimate our own abilities? I am certainly guilty of this.
I LOVE to swim. I find true solace in the water. Due to lack of opportunity, and then a broken foot, I have not been able to swim laps in quite some time. A few years in fact. Recently a friend offered me the use of her in-ground pool. Naturally I accepted this generous offer! Last week was my first lap swimming session. Now see that I set my expectations for myself very low. Her pool is about 25 yards. I would swim 4 laps, or 100 yards, freestyle, then 50 yards breast stoke, as a working recovery. I did this for about 15 minutes. as I entered my last 15 minutes, it occurred to me that perhaps I could do a little more. I ended by swimming 10 laps without stopping. I felt pretty good. Until today.
Today I decided my goal would be to do the same, 4 freestyle, 2 breaststroke, but add 15 minutes to my swim. Good plan. When I got in the water, and began to swim, the little voice inside my head said, "ah. wait a minute, if you have proven you can do 10 laps, why are you settling for 4? " Dang that voice! Who invited her? Ten laps it is! After swimming 10 and doing 2 of the breast stroke that brilliant voice spoke up again. 'Really, you are barely breathing hard, come on girl!!" 20 laps, 1 breaststroke. I was never a competitive swimmer. Until today I had no idea how many yards were in a mile. After drying off, I grabbed my phone and did the math on the calculator. I swam 100 yards shy of a mile! Just 4 little laps in that particular pool. Guess I know what my goal is for my next swim!
It may be time to really look at what we expect from others, and set some of those same great expectations upon ourselves! I think we will be amazed at what we can do!
I LOVE to swim. I find true solace in the water. Due to lack of opportunity, and then a broken foot, I have not been able to swim laps in quite some time. A few years in fact. Recently a friend offered me the use of her in-ground pool. Naturally I accepted this generous offer! Last week was my first lap swimming session. Now see that I set my expectations for myself very low. Her pool is about 25 yards. I would swim 4 laps, or 100 yards, freestyle, then 50 yards breast stoke, as a working recovery. I did this for about 15 minutes. as I entered my last 15 minutes, it occurred to me that perhaps I could do a little more. I ended by swimming 10 laps without stopping. I felt pretty good. Until today.
Today I decided my goal would be to do the same, 4 freestyle, 2 breaststroke, but add 15 minutes to my swim. Good plan. When I got in the water, and began to swim, the little voice inside my head said, "ah. wait a minute, if you have proven you can do 10 laps, why are you settling for 4? " Dang that voice! Who invited her? Ten laps it is! After swimming 10 and doing 2 of the breast stroke that brilliant voice spoke up again. 'Really, you are barely breathing hard, come on girl!!" 20 laps, 1 breaststroke. I was never a competitive swimmer. Until today I had no idea how many yards were in a mile. After drying off, I grabbed my phone and did the math on the calculator. I swam 100 yards shy of a mile! Just 4 little laps in that particular pool. Guess I know what my goal is for my next swim!
It may be time to really look at what we expect from others, and set some of those same great expectations upon ourselves! I think we will be amazed at what we can do!