Expectations: The Thin Dividing Line

We all have expectations in life. Any person in his proper senses can never deny having some or the other expectation from life, either for the present or future. Some carry more of it around with them while others expect less and actually are content with less.

Think about the stages of life. Now every stage comes with its own expectations. A new born child expects to be fed and kept comfortable. A toddler wants all the attention in life. A child loves to be with friends, playing, and enjoying all the toys that he can possibly lay his hands on. A teenager would love to hang out and party with friends. Someone in their 20s would expect true love, besides a job with good money. From that time onwards a person expects to have found the love of their life, and be high in their career. A retired person expects some love and care from the children. And as sad as it may sound, a person who is ill expects the doctor to save him, to live longer.

So what are all these. Expectations of course! And we all live with them, rightly so. But do you know what takes us to the downside in life? Yes, these very expectations. It's natural that most of the things that we expect in life, we see them as our right, something we ought to get anyhow. Things in life once got, are not valued, sadly they are valued more when we don't have them anymore. But also, if any of our expectations are not met, we feel cheated by life, by God, by everyone. It can even lead to depression. Some people take drastic measures when their expectations are squashed. While some others can live with it and go ahead.

So then! Do we expect or not? It could be simple. Don't expect, so you aren't disappointed anyway. But make no mistake, it's easier said than done. Yes much easier said than done. One way to see it is, if there is no hope or expectations, what's there to look forward to in life? We need something to drive us and keep us going, some goal, some wants. Another way to look at it is, like mentioned just earlier here, don't expect much, so whatever you get is good, and if you don't, oh well so what. But let me tell you this line of division is thin, very thin. You would not realize yourself, when from inside you switch from an expectant person to a non-expectant individual. No thin line shows up at such times, because yes, the line is so thin that you would never realize anyway.

So what's the solution then. Well there is no pre-fixed solution or formula. You need to decide yourself how high to raise your expectations to for anything and every stage in life. You only will know how easily you can handle failure or rejection. Raise your own bar accordingly. Expect less, be disappointed less, expect more, get more, but be ready for equally more dejection. The call is yours!!!