You are always redefining and refining your expectations, for yourself and for the world around you. As a conscious, information-processing machine, you take in data (what you observe), and use this data to formulate expectations. You expect the sun to rise tomorrow because you’ve seen it rise every other day of your life. You expect your dog to be happy when you get home because she’s generally excited to see you when you walk in the front door.

This system generally serves us well, except that sometimes our information is either inaccurate or poorly processed. Poor processing generally comes in the form of ignoring reality, miscategorizing information, or injecting some arbitrary idea of “deserving” into the equation (i.e., the “life should be fair” sentiment).

Inaccurate information, on the other hand, comes in the form of observing some form of augmented reality. While “augmented reality” may sound like science fiction, there’s a good chance you arrived on this very page via some form of augmented reality (Facebook, Instagram, etc.).

You use your exposures to define your expectations, and as such, you would do well to focus on exposures that convey reality rather than illusion, or at the very least to run your observations through a filter of understanding. While I do believe that social media is a beautiful, powerful tool for idea sharing and connection, and have nothing against its use, it’s important to recognize that 9/10 times, you’re not looking at a truth when you scroll through your Instagram feed. You’re looking at a collection of pop-up pseudo movie sets. You’re looking at a glimpse of one moment out of 1,000, and that moment is sure to be one of the better ones. That’s why we post it to share with the world, after all.

This isn’t wrong; it’s just what it is.

The problem happens when you digest all of this information without applying it through the filter of understanding: “this isn’t 100% real.” You see how beautiful everyone else’s world looks, and when you turn back to your own reality, you can’t help but notice the cracks and faults that seem to line yours. Expectations (defined by what you’ve observed) are not met; unmet expectations breed disappointment and contempt. Your reality falls short, it seems, of everyone else’s, and that’s a hard (albeit fake) reality to face.

Before you suppose that I’m going to make some crazy suggestion such as throwing away your smartphone or deleting your social media accounts, stop. Recognize that nuance is possible. Babies and bathwater can be separated. Social media can be a source of more good than bad, you just need to be a sensible, rational human. Because like it or not, you are going to be exposed to augmented realities. Television, advertising, social media, and storytelling all forms are ubiquitous enough that, barring living as a hermit in the woods, you’re going to have to deal with it. The best solution, then, is to turn to yourself to develop your expectations.

Observe your reality.

Recognize and appreciate it for what it is. Create expectations based off of it.

Then make it better tomorrow.

That’s a process that cannot fail you.

- PS

9/11/18

• Push press - 3,3,3,3

Then...

• 4 rounds

• 40s max push press (95/65)

• 20s rest

• 40s max jumping lunges

• 20s rest

• 40s max pull-ups

• 20s rest