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Expectation vs. Reality
I heard a saying once that went something like this: Blessed are those with no expectations for they are never disappointed. I’ve always liked that saying and try to keep it in mind whenever things go other than planned. (I will admit that I still have a hard time accepting what is when I’m behind the wheel and have to witness people’s inability to negotiate a 4-way stop.)
I’m always amazed when I hear that the stock market fell because economic indicators were worse than expected. Who’s setting these expectations? What are they based on? Why can’t the economy exist in reality instead of always in speculation? It’s scary to think that millions or billions are made and lost based on someone’s expectation.
It seems like a lot of our suffering comes from reality not aligning with what we think it should be. Well, who the heck are we that reality should bend itself to our whims? I imagine that in any given situation that doesn’t go the way I planned, it turned out exactly the way someone else imagined it.
I’m not saying that I don’t anticipate having a good time when I go out to dinner or go on a road trip, but why does the event have to be ruined by a bad salad or a flat tire? All that stuff is a part of life. It’s what makes life interesting. I’m working on learning to enjoy the unexpected. Trust me, I have a long way to go, especially when I’m driving, but I think I’m finally able to get over being mad or disappointed much faster than I used to.
How do you react when reality doesn’t meet your expectations?