But I couldn’t stay a moment longer. <bulle-clinique></bulle-clinique>
But I couldn’t stay a moment longer. <bulle-clinique></bulle-clinique>
Living up to everyone’s expectations
Knowing how to react to other people’s expectations isn’t always easy.
Louise’s mom has high expectations for her two daughters and her questions filled Louise with anger, sadness, and nostalgia. She is proud to see her sister stand up for herself since it’s something she personally struggles with (read the story “The neighbour and the doormat”).
Louise’s anxiety leads her to view herself as someone who isn’t living up to her mother’s expectations. As a result, she sees herself in a negative light and devalues herself, which impacts her self-esteem. She is unable to stand up for herself so she leaves the table, removing herself from the stressful situation.
In response to this situation, Louise could express her feelings to her mother so as not to keep her emotions bottled up. Even when you don’t feel inclined to do so, using humour is also a good way to defuse your emotions and lighten up the interaction.
The process of letting go of other people’s expectations and becoming more assertive takes time. Be kind to yourself.
