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Why Low Expectations Backfire · PTT Music Podcast

• 0:21
  So, I was looking at this study from twenty eighteen in the Journal of Consumer
• 0:25
  Psychology, and it completely blew up this idea that, you know,
• 0:30
  we should lower our expectations to protect ourselves from getting hurt.
• 0:34
  It turns out that people who set these low, safe goals to protect themselves
• 0:39
  actually feel greater disappointment when they meet those goals than the people who
• 0:44
  set high standards.
• 0:45
  It is this total, counterintuitive trap.
• 0:49
  Wait, seriously?
• 0:50
  That makes absolutely no sense on the surface.
• 0:54
  I mean, if you expect a C and you get a C, aren't you supposed to be completely fine
• 0:58
  with it?
• 0:59
  Isn't that the whole point of the shield?
• 1:02
  Right, you think it is a shield.
• 1:04
  But the psychology shows we have this thing called shifting reference standards.
• 1:09
  Our brains basically move the goalposts the second we get feedback.
• 1:14
  So when you lowball your hopes, it does not actually cushion the blow at all.
• 1:18
  It just robs you of motivation beforehand and then, when you actually hit that low
• 1:23
  target, your brain immediately compares it to what you secretly wanted anyway,
• 1:29
  leaving you feeling completely unsatisfied.
• 1:31
  Oh, wow.
• 1:32
  That actually hits really close to home.
• 1:35
  I have to confess, I did this exact thing with a creative project last year.
• 1:41
  I was working on this piece, and I was so concerned of it just falling flat that I
• 1:46
  kept telling myself, you know, if even ten people hear this and like it,
• 1:50
  that is a massive win.
• 1:53
  I literally built this cozy little safety net of low expectations.
• 1:58
  And what happened when you put it out there?
• 2:00
  Well, it actually did really well, way more than ten people listened.
• 2:04
  But because I had spent weeks mentally preparing for failure,
• 2:09
  the actual success felt hollow.
• 2:11
  It was so flat.
• 2:14
  I had put myself into this state of avoidance motivation, just trying to escape the
• 2:19
  pain of failure instead of actively chasing the joy of creating something beautiful.
• 2:24
  It was like I was operating from fear instead of energy.
• 2:29
  Yes!
• 2:30
  That is the perfect way to put it.
• 2:32
  Avoidance versus approach motivation.
• 2:35
  When we are hiding, our energy is completely dampened.
• 2:39
  And that is where music can be such an incredible emotional mirror.
• 2:44
  It helps you shift from that defensive, closed off retreat to an open,
• 2:49
  brave state of mind.
• 2:51
  It forces you to feel the stakes again.
• 2:54
  And you know, that transition from holding back to committing completely is exactly
• 3:00
  what the PTT Music track, "All In," is all about.
• 3:04
  When you hear that driving energy, it is a direct sonic reminder to stop hedging
• 3:09
  your bets.
• 3:10
  It is about letting go of those low expectations and giving everything you have to
• 3:15
  your vision.
• 3:16
  Oh, absolutely.
• 3:18
  The track "All In" has this beautiful, positive focus that makes you feel like,
• 3:23
  why am I playing small?
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  It replaces that avoidance fear with pure momentum.
• 3:29
  It is like a soundtrack for building mental strength and choosing courage over
• 3:34
  safety.
• 3:35
  So, how do we actually maintain those ambitious, high goals without letting the fear
• 3:41
  of disappointment completely paralyze us?
• 3:44
  It really comes down to a kind of creative discipline, a way of training our minds
• 3:49
  to hold space for big possibilities.
• 3:52
  Right, because we need practical ways to handle that tension.
• 3:57
  I think the first step has to be what we can call the Goal Reminder.
• 4:01
  Before you get any feedback on your work, write down your original,
• 4:05
  ambitious standard on a piece of paper.
• 4:08
  Then, when you are actually evaluating the results, look at that paper directly.
• 4:13
  It stops your mind from doing that sneaky trick of shifting the reference standard
• 4:17
  upward after the fact.
• 4:19
  Yes, give yourself permission to hope.
• 4:22
  And finally, step three is about creating a Resilience Soundtrack.
• 4:28
  When you are heading into those high stakes moments, pair them with a track like
• 4:33
  "All In."
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  Using music to steady your nervous system and build courage allows you to face
• 4:39
  whatever feedback comes with a clear mind and a highly elastic resilience.
• 4:45
  Again, thanks for spending this time with us on the PTT Music Podcast.
• 4:50
  We hope today's conversation left you inspired, encouraged,
• 4:53
  and ready to carry that energy with you wherever life takes you.
• 4:57
  I'm Jordan Sterling...
• 4:59
  And I'm Ava Brooks.
• 5:00
  We'll see you next time for another conversation that celebrates creativity,
• 5:05
  purpose, and the power of music.
• 5:07
  If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to continue the journey with us.
• 5:12
  Visit PTTMusic.com to explore our latest music, official videos,
• 5:18
  exclusive merchandise, artist updates, and much more.
• 5:22
  You can also stream PTT Music on your favorite music platforms.
• 5:26
  And be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with
• 5:30
  someone who could use a little inspiration today...
• 5:33
  Until next time, keep moving forward.
• 5:36
  And let the PTT Music continue to move you closer to who you truly are.