When the warmer weather approaches, advertising for diet and exercise explodes onto the scene. You see beautiful people along with the before and after shots. All too often, these commercials will try to make you believe that you can accomplish the same results within weeks or even days. This sets us up for unhealthy expectations about what can actually be accomplished.

There will be the few people that can trim down their waist size in a short period of time. For everyone else, it is probably going to take a much longer time and more will be needed to do than what the advertising proposes.

Self-doubt can also occur within our mental state. Physical appearance is only part of the picture. We are subject to negative stories and pictures on a daily basis. Many of us grew up exposed to so much negativity that it has become an integral part of who we are. We are expected early on to do well in school, get a college degree, go out into the working world and make lots of money. Some people can do this. But many get stuck somewhere along the way, probably because the expectations were not in line with their own.

If we go through our lives living the expectations of others, that is going to increase the chances of failure. It’s important for our society to recognize that there are many paths that can lead to happiness, and this will lead to much higher self-esteem. Doing what we love instead of what is expected of us will lead to a more rewarding and fulfilling life.

It’s a challenge to break down a lifetime of expectations that are not your own. It becomes more difficult the older you get and you may have accepted that this is the only course available to you. But because it’s difficult doesn’t mean you can’t overcome this and set out new expectations that are realistic and appropriate for your life.

Determine what it is you really want and figure out what it will take to get there. You may need to sacrifice certain aspects that you have grown accustomed to. You may also need to garner the support of family and friends as it may affect them. But in the end, you will wake up each morning more content knowing that the expectations you set are your own. This gives you a reason to want to get up.

Judi Moreo is the Ultimate Achievement Coach. In addition, she is an author, an artist, a hypnotherapist, an NLP practitioner, and a television show host of “What’s Your Story?” on the WWDB-TV Network on Roku. If you would like to contact Judi, you may do so at judi@judimoreo.com