managing expectations can change how you feel about work.

It’s not always the outcome that determines whether we feel good about something, it’s often our expectations.

We can pour our heart into a project, hit every deadline, and still end up disappointed (hi, perfectionism!).

Or we can miss a few steps, adapt along the way, and feel genuinely proud of what we’ve accomplished.

If the performance review says “great job”, but you don’t really feel it, your expectations might be getting in the way.

And in that case, working on our mindset might be more helpful than tweaking the work itself.

We don’t talk enough about expectations when it comes to outcomes.

And when we do, it often sounds like we’re just lowering our standards.

But a perfect outcome isn’t a high standard, it’s just a shortcut to feeling bad about ourselves.

I’ve struggled with this most of my life, and the more I’ve worked on my expectations, the more productive (and happy) I’ve felt.

It’s not about aiming low, it’s about aiming for growth, and feeling proud when things don’t go as planned, but we figure it out anyway.

about the author:

Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.