--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm trying to just take things as they…" description: "\"I'm trying to just take things as they come, not to try to expect too much, just do my job and hope things work out.\" — Ed McCaffrey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg" --- # I'm trying to just take things as they come, not to try to… ![“I'm trying to just take things as they come, not to try to expect too much, just do my job and hope things work out.” quote by Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg) > “I'm trying to just take things as they come, not to try to expect too much, just do my job and hope things work out.” [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopt a relaxed, present‑focused mindset, avoid over‑planning, and trust that effort will lead to positive outcomes. **In simple terms:** Take things as they come and do your job. Key Takeaway Focus on present tasks, not future anxieties. Themes mindfulness work ethic expectation management resilience Mood calm determined Type practical motivational When to use this quote - Job performance - personal goals - team projects - daily routines Key Concepts Stoicism performance psychology stress reduction Questions to Reflect On - What can you control right now? - How do you balance preparation with flexibility? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on hope can lead to passivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [“I try not to expect people to be who I wish them to be, rather than who they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-thomas/i-try-not-to-expect-people-to-be-who-i-wish-them-to-be-rather-than/) [Sherry Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-thomas/) > [“Life is surprises, try not to expect everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhal-tekaya/life-is-surprises-try-not-to-expect-everything/) Nidhal Tekaya > [Try and expect nothing, but be open for anything. Don't look for happiness, but don't settle for anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/try-and-expect-nothing-but-be-open-for-anything-don-t-look-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some things don't wind up sounding like you'd expect, which is just as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-frith/some-things-don-t-wind-up-sounding-like-you-d-expect-which-is-just-as/) [Fred Frith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-frith/) > [Never assume. Don't expect. Just hope...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-ghadge/never-assume-don-t-expect-just-hope/) [Punit Ghadge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-ghadge/) > [Don't expect so much from someone. Just accept what they have to offer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-expect-so-much-from-someone-just-accept-what-they-have-to-offer/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I always try to be positive but not expect too much of myself, just have a nice balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reiss-nelson/i-always-try-to-be-positive-but-not-expect-too-much-of-myself-just/) [Reiss Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reiss-nelson/) > [If you walk out of my life, don't expect that you can just run right back into it...It doesn't work like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-walk-out-of-my-life-don-t-expect-that-you-can-just-run-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's so easy to get caught up in what people expect of you. Sometimes, you can just lose yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-s-so-easy-to-get-caught-up-in-what-people-expect-of-you-sometimes/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I don't want anyone to expect anything from me. I just want them to know that I'm gonna put 1,037% into whatever I do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/i-don-t-want-anyone-to-expect-anything-from-me-i-just-want-them-to/) [JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/) > [No expectations, no disappointments! I'm an optimistic...but sometimes it's just better not to expect anything at all...just wait and see!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-expectations-no-disappointments-i-m-an-optimistic-but-sometimes-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't expect life to serve you what you expect. Just enjoy the buffet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-vaz/don-t-expect-life-to-serve-you-what-you-expect-just-enjoy-the-buffet/) [Manoj Vaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-vaz/) > [“You expect me to do everything for you?' ' No. Just dress me. Please.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/you-expect-me-to-do-everything-for-you-no-just-dress-me-please/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Don't ever love anything too much, or expect too much it will just end up disappointing you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-ever-love-anything-too-much-or-expect-too-much-it-will-just-end/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I never expect anything; I just go make a movie. I do the best I can, and whatever happens, happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-zahn/i-never-expect-anything-i-just-go-make-a-movie-i-do-the-best-i-can/) [Steve Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-zahn/) ## More by Ed McCaffrey > [Yeah, I don't think I'm taking my shirt off to play flag football in the park with the kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/yeah-i-don-t-think-i-m-taking-my-shirt-off-to-play-flag-football-in/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [Well, I love being a head coach. And when my kids were younger, it just didn't feel right at the time. I was happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/well-i-love-being-a-head-coach-and-when-my-kids-were-younger-it-just/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [Speed is something I always worked on really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/speed-is-something-i-always-worked-on-really-hard/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [I was pretty dorky in high school. I was pretty much of a recluse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-was-pretty-dorky-in-high-school-i-was-pretty-much-of-a-recluse/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [As an NFL analyst, my job was to watch countless hours of game film and critique NFL coaches and that's what I've been doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/as-an-nfl-analyst-my-job-was-to-watch-countless-hours-of-game-film/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [I'm by no means an expert at coaching high school football. I'm doing the best I can in Year 1. But I've already learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-m-by-no-means-an-expert-at-coaching-high-school-football-i-m-doing/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [When I do something, I consult my family, so that when you get me, you get my whole family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/when-i-do-something-i-consult-my-family-so-that-when-you-get-me-you/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [Look, I follow my heart. That's the only thing I know how to do. I look at the work, I look for opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/look-i-follow-my-heart-that-s-the-only-thing-i-know-how-to-do-i-look/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [Fathers, for the first time, we have no clue what we're doing. I had no idea when I became a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/fathers-for-the-first-time-we-have-no-clue-what-we-re-doing-i-had-no/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [I think sports is good for goal setting, and I think it teaches you some important values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-think-sports-is-good-for-goal-setting-and-i-think-it-teaches-you/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [I'm so happy to be here and I want to bring championship football back to the University of Northern Colorado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-m-so-happy-to-be-here-and-i-want-to-bring-championship-football/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [And I love doing my radio show and I love some of the other interests that I have. But I really feel like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/and-i-love-doing-my-radio-show-and-i-love-some-of-the-other-interests/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [I wanted to do something that gave my life meaning and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-wanted-to-do-something-that-gave-my-life-meaning-and-purpose/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [What Lisa and I want is for our kids to grow up to be good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/what-lisa-and-i-want-is-for-our-kids-to-grow-up-to-be-good-people/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) > [I've lived in Colorado longer than anywhere else in my life. All four of our boys were born and raised here. All of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-ve-lived-in-colorado-longer-than-anywhere-else-in-my-life-all-four/) [Ed McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) [Explore all 16 Ed McCaffrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/) ## More Hope quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop trying to give me hope ... I have no room left for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-f/stop-trying-to-give-me-hope-i-have-no-room-left-for-it/) [Jenn F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-f/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I am at a point in my life where everything I have worked for starts to look like a burden, a weight on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-abou-samra/i-am-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-everything-i-have-worked-for-starts/) Simone Abou Samra > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) Im Nothing > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 24,868 Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm trying to just take things as they come, not to try to expect too much, just do my job and hope things work out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed McCaffrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-come-not-to-try-to-expect-too/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hope" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-come-not-to-try-to-expect-too/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/ed-mccaffrey-31637_hope_i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-c_1292123.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm trying to just take things as they come, not to try to expect too much, just do my job and hope things…” — Ed McCaffrey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ed McCaffrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccaffrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm trying to just take things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-come-not-to-try-to-expect-too/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccaffrey/i-m-trying-to-just-take-things-as-they-come-not-to-try-to-expect-too/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```