Over Promising and Under-Delivering

Today, I want to have a heart-to-heart about a topic we've all encountered at some point in our lives – the frustrating dance of over-promising and under-delivering. It's one of those things that might make you cringe in hindsight but is all too easy to fall into. So, let's dive into this slippery slope with some personal anecdotes and reflections.

1. The Infamous New Year's Resolution:

Remember those ambitious New Year's resolutions we set ourselves every year? Mine were usually a blend of fitness goals, language learning, and reading lists that could rival a small library. At the start of the year, I'd over-promise myself an impressive transformation, vowing to become a fitness guru, polyglot, and a bookworm extraordinaire. As the months rolled on, the harsh reality set in. I often found myself, come February, clinging to just one resolution, and that too half-heartedly. Over-promising and under-delivering can be quite the buzzkill.

2. The Work Project that Went South:

In the professional world, we've all been there – enthusiastically taking on a new project, believing we could work miracles and deliver results that would make our boss raise an eyebrow in awe. As the deadlines loomed and the pressure mounted, I realized that the overconfidence in my abilities had led me to underdeliver. The end result was a project that was good but far from the "out-of-the-park" home run I had envisioned.

3. The Social Commitment Juggle:

On the social front, I've often fallen into the trap of over-promising my presence at events and gatherings, thinking I could be everywhere all the time. The result? A calendar that was overbooked and my energy sapped. I ended up bailing on some events or attending with half my heart, leaving me feeling guilty and exhausted. Over-promising can be a quick route to social burnout.

So, what's the deal with this over-promising and under-delivering conundrum? In my journey of self-reflection, I've come to see it as a combination of optimism, ambition, and perhaps a dash of people-pleasing. We want to believe we can do it all, we don't want to let others down, and we crave that sense of achievement. But there's a harsh truth in admitting that we have limits, and overextending ourselves often leads to disappointment.

The key, it seems, is finding a balance. It's about setting realistic goals, understanding our capacities, and learning to say 'no' when necessary. It's also about managing expectations – both our own and those of others. Rather than over-promising, it's better to under-promise and over-deliver. It might not bring instant gratification, but it's a more sustainable approach in the long run.

The art of over-promising and under-delivering is something we all experience, but recognizing it and taking steps to rectify it can make a world of difference in our personal and professional lives. So, let's embrace the lessons learned from our past mistakes and strive for more realistic, achievable goals. It's a path to growth, resilience, and, ultimately, better self-fulfillment.

Remember, it's okay to dream big, but it's even better to achieve the dreams we set our minds to. Over-promising, under-delivering? No more of that for me. How about you? ~RS 🫵