Expectations

"Expectations"

A simple word that when used incorrectly can feel as though it's ruining our lives. We have all felt, at one time or another, that we've worked dilligently only to find ourelves holding what seems to be nothing. We all know of the big losses, the dream college we didn't get into, the promotion given to another, the house we didn't buy, the chidren we didn't have and the list goes on and on. But what place does "Expectation" play in the day-to-day afairs of our lives?

Have you ever started out for work and in your head anticipated your arrival time. As you drive you're planing your day, what's going to happen or get done etc. etc. Then all of a sudden there is an accident and you're twenty minutes late for work. You're frazzeled, your stressed out, you can feel your heartbeat racing. Are you in danger of losing your job, probably not, but you're stressed as though you are.

Have you ever stopped to take a moment and wonder why? Are you so trained, ingrained that stress is part of our lives that you accept it no matter how crazed it makes you ? If you think about it you are stressed because of "Expectation". You "Expected" to get to work at a certain time, then you "Expected" that other events would follow in line. You planned on your expectations. These are what drive us crazy. Can we get rid of them NO, but we can be AWARE of them and thereby learn how to control them.

As you're planning your day be AWARE of what you're "Expecting" and that life throws curve balls that don't go well with our "Plans". So learn to let go just a little and start to "Expect" that things may not go perfectly and if they don't your whole day won't be ruined. If you "Expect" that your day will go one way, but plan as though it may not. Figure out in your head which of your lists are to do lists and which are to want lists for that moment of that day. They are all important, to be sure, but at that moment, for that morning. Something has to take precedence.

Once you've planned "O.k. I WANT to get ABCDEFG done before lunch, but if something happens I will be good if I get ACEF done" you won't be frazzeled if there is an accident on the highway. AND...... If by chance everything works out to your "Expectations" you can really feel refreshed and elated because you got everything you Expected at that moment.

Long story short... be aware of your turning wants into expectations. If you keep focused on flexibility you will more often be pleased with the results and accomplish more in big picture than you will if you are running frazzeled because today's "Expectations" got messed up by life.

Life, we hope, is here for awhile and it isn't something we can change, argue with or plan for, but if stop fighting the challenges and learn to ride the waves we soon find ourselves surfing effortlessly!