Recently, I was listening to Denise Linn on Hay House Radio and she spoke briefly about expectation and disappointment. Basically, when
we set up expectations about an outcome, we are disappointed when that outcome doesn't occur. Just this brief mention on her behalf really spoke volumes to
me.
In my early adult years, I went through a period of extreme disappointment. The working world was not as I had expected it to be. My friends were not as I expected them to be. My life was not as I had glamorously expected it to be. It seemed that every person, group and organization over-promised and under-delivered. Eventually, as a way of coping, I came up with a mantra: Expect the best, but be prepared for the worst. This in itself is not exactly the worst of advice, but it's emphasis on the negative was unmistakable.
Fast forward to now, my more spiritually-minded approach to such things have lead me to an adapted mantra: Expect the best. But the Universe is in charge, and may not lay things out exactly as we believe they should occur, no matter how good we are at manifesting. It is inevitable, being human, that we develop expectations. So what do we do with these expectations, and their related disappointments?
I faced this exact circumstance this recently. A door in my life had opened and I had spent more than a little time imagining what little piece of world existed for me through that door. I have been polishing the door and had bought a lovely foot mat for just inside it. I'd been shopping for a perfect entry table so that guests could place their purse or keys. But the door was suddenly closed. And locked. I was locked out.
My first reaction was extreme disappointment. I felt the stress in my body. I felt irritable. To analyze it, I think mostly I felt sad....a loss. I think this is a normal human response, one that we may not even notice sometimes in our busy lives. Maybe a little irritability sneaks into our voice as we ask our kids to pick up their shoes and put them away. The sadness is behind the veil that we keep between us and the world. But I don't want the sadness there! To live in the moment is to live spiritually. And this moment is perfect as it is.
How do we do that? First, recognize the expectation that existed. Then, recognize that it is our EGO self that formed this expectation, and our EGO self is NOT in charge. Finally, recognize that the UNIVERSE arranges everything as it is to be. If there is a lesson in the loss, look at it from a detached perspective and take in whatever is to be learned. Then, mentally write your expectations on a piece of paper and throw them into a fire of your mind's making. Let the regret and sadness turn to ashes. Banish them from your mind to make room for the flowers the Universe is bringing you in the next moment.
And there they are........all is well.
In my early adult years, I went through a period of extreme disappointment. The working world was not as I had expected it to be. My friends were not as I expected them to be. My life was not as I had glamorously expected it to be. It seemed that every person, group and organization over-promised and under-delivered. Eventually, as a way of coping, I came up with a mantra: Expect the best, but be prepared for the worst. This in itself is not exactly the worst of advice, but it's emphasis on the negative was unmistakable.
Fast forward to now, my more spiritually-minded approach to such things have lead me to an adapted mantra: Expect the best. But the Universe is in charge, and may not lay things out exactly as we believe they should occur, no matter how good we are at manifesting. It is inevitable, being human, that we develop expectations. So what do we do with these expectations, and their related disappointments?
I faced this exact circumstance this recently. A door in my life had opened and I had spent more than a little time imagining what little piece of world existed for me through that door. I have been polishing the door and had bought a lovely foot mat for just inside it. I'd been shopping for a perfect entry table so that guests could place their purse or keys. But the door was suddenly closed. And locked. I was locked out.
My first reaction was extreme disappointment. I felt the stress in my body. I felt irritable. To analyze it, I think mostly I felt sad....a loss. I think this is a normal human response, one that we may not even notice sometimes in our busy lives. Maybe a little irritability sneaks into our voice as we ask our kids to pick up their shoes and put them away. The sadness is behind the veil that we keep between us and the world. But I don't want the sadness there! To live in the moment is to live spiritually. And this moment is perfect as it is.
How do we do that? First, recognize the expectation that existed. Then, recognize that it is our EGO self that formed this expectation, and our EGO self is NOT in charge. Finally, recognize that the UNIVERSE arranges everything as it is to be. If there is a lesson in the loss, look at it from a detached perspective and take in whatever is to be learned. Then, mentally write your expectations on a piece of paper and throw them into a fire of your mind's making. Let the regret and sadness turn to ashes. Banish them from your mind to make room for the flowers the Universe is bringing you in the next moment.
And there they are........all is well.
Last edited by: Myharmony 04/20/08 06:59:10.
Edited 3 times.
Comments
Posted: 04/01/08 22:54:17
I love this.. Thank you so much for sharing..
It seems to me that my own spiritual journey has been compressing a ton of lessons about this very subject for me to learn over the past year or so.
You so very eloquently bring this very difficult lesson to a pure and simple truth.
The gift is in the present!! And our EGO wants so desperately to have us believe differently.
I truly hope that your further lessons aren't as filled with dissapointment, stress, and sadness as that one was.
Much love and well wishes for many, many, many perfect moments,
Always
~Noreen