Adjusting expectations for increased happiness
I am in the middle of an experiment where I noticed something that is not going according to the way I want it to go, and then I adjust my expectation to expect it to go the way it normally goes and observe the impact.
Observation: I often make faux pas on social occasions. I usually feel pretty embarrassed about these and it wrecks the rest of my night as I expect to be smooth and silky with everyone I meet.
Adjustment: I expect that I will make at least one faux pas each time I am out and about - it is just the way I roll.
Observation: my son is having tantrums every day, and I fight him all the way and expect him to be cruisey and happy all the time.
Adjustment: I expect that each day my son will have a least one melt down. It is a sign that he is growing and working through some bigger kid stuff.
Initial results are that I seem to be able to roll with social mishaps and tantrums more easily than I previously could.