We Get What We Expect

You don’t get what you want, you get what you expect. 

This phrase was shared with me several years ago at a beginning teacher's workshop.  In the workshop we were taught how to unlock the power of our imaginations to change how we see the world and ourselves. We learned how to seriously envision ourselves succeeding in this or that area of life. Once we had that picture in mind, we worked on using affirmative statements to reprogram our subconscious to help us achieve our vision.

I know it may sound like way out in left-field thinking (No, Coach Brown this is NOT a baseball post). Trust me, it’s not. Our imaginations are truly powerful and the evidence is all around us. Successful people, whether they do it consciously or unconsciously, use the power of their imaginations to achieve their success.

Think of some successful people you know. How do they talk about themselves? Rarely will you hear a successful person talk about how terrible they are or how they expect to fail. Successful people say things like “I can do that!” and “I can’t wait to make that happen!” By repeatedly affirming themselves both inwardly and outwardly, these people program their subconscious to find ways to make that dream a reality. They keep working, trying new ways to get things done, and never give up until they reach their goal.

On the other hand, think of some of the less successful people you know. How do they talk about themselves? Usually they have low self-esteem and low expectations. They say things like “I wish I could do that” or “That’s too hard” or “That’s too expensive.” Like the successful person, they are using their imaginations too, but in a negative way to affirm their lack of success. Their subconscious, thus programmed to fail, will find ways to make sure success never comes. They will give up, make excuses, and ignore opportunities until they fail.

In the case of both the successful and unsuccessful person they will get exactly what they expect.

Nowhere is this mentality of using the power of your imagination to unlock your potential more important than in education. Students need to envision themselves being successful. They need to have positive self-talk, both inwardly and outwardly. As with adults, imagining and affirming success will set students on a positive course in life.

Think of the teachers your son's have had over the years. Which ones made the biggest difference? I am willing to bet my career that the teachers who made the bigger difference in your son’s life were the ones who affirmed them and made them see how great they can be. Knowledge of content and good pedagogy are important, but are not necessarily life changing.  I was blessed to have several life-changing teachers in my life. I am blessed to work with many such teachers at Vianney. 

If we want to better our society then we truly must be the change we want to see in the world. We need to constantly lift up our students, reminding them frequently of their awesome potential! 

Reminding them that failure is merely a stepping stone to a greater success. This is not an excuse for laziness or to allow our students off the hook for adolescent mistakes, but it puts these behaviors in a different light. Ultimately we need them to understand the dignity and awesome plan God has in store for them on their path to becoming Men of Character & Accomplishment!