“Expectations are the seeds of resentment,” a wise mentor once told me.

It’s a lesson that’s easy in concept but not in execution. An expectation is simply a belief that is future-focused that may or may not be realistic. Often we create unrealistic expectations about how something is going to play out, and when it doesn’t happen exactly that way, our world feels like it is crashing down.

This is especially true about our leadership journey. While it’s great to set our sights high, we have to be ready for the reality of leading in a world that’s always changing. It’s a delicate balance of being optimistic, realistic, and resilient.

Instead of setting a low bar about the future, the best leaders remain hopeful, at the same time, know the path to a brighter future is littered with challenges…