Expectations. What a beast…
I just ordered pizza. I’ve had this pizza a lot in the past, and I really love it. So now I have this expectation of the experience of the pizza being so good, like I remember it. But then, if it arrives cold and badly prepared in some way, my experience of it will be hurt. It’ll still be an amazing pizza really, but it’ll be less than usual, less than expected. Which could make me feel disappointment, rather than enjoyment from the pizza.
Expectation is sometimes the thing that turns good things into bad things. It does that all on its own. The thing itself never changes. Expectation jumps in and, as toxic a thing as it is, poisons things. Turns them bad.
Well, expectation may also have the opposite effect. If it’s your birthday and you have no expectations, then suddenly see your friends and family throwing you a wonderful experience all tailored to your likings, letting you know how much they care about you and value what you value, you’d feel amazing!
Expectation is a beast that can be tamed, possibly. Although it’s usually quite wild.
Expectations is something in our lives that’s like a hydra. It has effects that are much vaster than we think. I think this is because it takes forms we don’t expect it to. See how sneaky it is? It hides itself from us.
Take this post as a reminder to watch out for your expectations. Ask yourself: “What am I expecting to happen?” or maybe “What is the thing that if it happened I would feel my expectations met?” It’s always interesting to discover what you unconsciously expect. You’d never have expected it.
The Mshary 