A quote from Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “Eat, Pray, Love”:

“I have a history of making decisions very quickly about men. I have always fallen in love fast and without measuring risks. I have a tendency not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential. I have fallen in love more times than I can count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, then I hung on to the relationship for a long time waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness” (p.285).

How many times has your wishful thinking altered your reality? This is a good example of why we should take a step bad to look at the real picture in front of us. We can often get lost in the promises of “I’ll change”, “I’ll quit when we have kids”, or “I’m going to do that someday.” After those promises are broken and dreams are discussed with no movement toward them, you tend to loose hope. This is a good opportunity to re-think your expectations and set some boundaries. Keep your eyes wide open and live life in reality- good decisions are likely to follow!

Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling.  Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.