Expect the opposite -- and it just might alter your whole way of thinking, podcast host says

A moment of self-reflection. (Pexels stock image)

Have you ever taken a few minutes to think about your expectations -- expectations about life, the people around you, and yourself?

Hereā€™s why we ask. Because on a recent episode of ā€œThe Best Advice Show,ā€ a guest and podcast host shared a brilliant tip involving expectations. Sarah May B., from the podcast ā€œHelp Me Be Me,ā€ -- which is a self-help show for people who hate self-help, as she described -- talked about this favorite tool that she uses on a daily basis, in fact, probably multiple times daily: Expect the opposite.

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Itā€™s a way to manually reset your expectations to open up room for something else to come forth, as Sarah May B. explained.

ā€œOnce you realize your own role in the creation of your day-to-day experience -- like, specifically, your expectations of the world and others, and whatā€™s going to happen -- itā€™s like a magic trick,ā€ she said. ā€œBecause you can alter it. I had no idea how much of my life I was actually creating, just via what I expected to have happen.ā€

In case thatā€™s a little too abstract for you, listen to the episode, below. Itā€™s only 3 minutes, 50 seconds long.

She goes on to put it in more specific terms: For example, letā€™s say you have a disagreement at work. Maybe your integrity feels threatened or someone insults you. Your body in that moment likely goes into a defense, case-building mode. Youā€™re probably saying to yourself, ā€œThis is bad,ā€ or ā€œThings are bad. This person thinks this or people think that.ā€

Sarah May B. says in the moment youā€™re feeling all of that negative energy, close your eyes and mentally say to yourself the opposite. Maybe this is actually a good thing. Maybe this argument will make your situation at work better.

Even if you donā€™t believe this possibility in the moment, just know that it is possible. And just by suggesting this possibility to yourself, it unlocks the potential.

ā€œItā€™s like a secret portal in a video game,ā€ Sarah May B said.

Listen as she talks podcast host Zak Rosen through an example.

Rosen, by the way, wants to hear from you next.

To contribute some of your advice, drop him a voicemail at 844-935-BEST. Leave your name and your tip, followed by your email address in case he has any follow-up questions.

It can be deep or not-so-deep. Rosen has a ā€œFood Fridaysā€ feature in which heā€™d love to feature your cooking advice.

Heā€™s not so much interested in platitudes and truisms, but instead, looking for the specific, odd, uplifting, effective, real advice from you about how you make it through your days.

ā€œThe Best Advice Showā€ is a product of Graham Media Group. Download it wherever you listen to or access podcasts.