Too High of Expectations

Perfectionism may not seem like it is that big of a deal, but when you experience it on a daily basis, it really is. Striving for perfection or setting expectations that are too high for yourself can lead to more stress than what is necessary. When I was little, I would constantly try and compete with my older brother. Both of us have fairly competitive personalities, which didn't help our relationship. This of course led to us constantly fighting, but it also led to us spending a lot of time together because we enjoyed the same things. As I look back on high school, I realize that I had very high expectations of myself when it came to sports. I would set goals that were nearly impossible to meet, then would be disappointed in myself when I wouldn't reach them. This led to me constantly comparing myself to others. I would always strive to get the better grades or the faster mile time. In college, this issue has gotten worse. Getting an A- in a class is unacceptable. Even getting straight A's leaves me feeling empty. But the question I am asking myself recently is, "why make it so difficult?" Why can't I just keep things simple? Today, I want to strive to simplify my life and reexamine my expectations that I have for myself.