Expectations...

Expectations...we all have them.

We have expectations of timely responses, promptness to events, outcomes to situations.

It is our expectations of others and our attachments to outcomes that can lead us to feelings of disappointment, frustration, and anger.

We have expectations that our family, friends and co-workers will treat us with the same care, compassion and understanding that we believe we show them.

We get excited (attaching emotion) about certain situations and expect others to feel and think the same way we do.

We desire outcomes that give us what we want or agree with our opinions.  We find ourselves with judgmental thoughts and criticism of others when our notions of what is ‘best’ is not obtained.

When we offer suggestions of how to deal with a situation and it is dismissed by others, only to find out later we were correct, a sense of “I told you so” offers us validation.  Having someone say, “You were right about that” offers us approval.

It is an insecure need for validation and approval that motivates us to be judgmental and critical of others when our expectations of them are not met.  

It is part of our nature to have expectations...

Or is it?

When we pause for reflection we realize that people think and react differently (this is a good thing – everyone is unique!)

When we do not show others the respect that they deserve, the same respect that we believe is owed to us, when we, as altruistic as we think our motives are, try to impose our will on them, we are not respecting their journey. 

We can release the destructive cycle of expectations when we recognize our motivations.  Why are we saying or doing something? Are we interacting with others from a heart centered space?  Are our words loving, supportive, non-judgmental?

The cycle can be stopped with an honest assessment of our own intentions.

When we relinquish the attachment to how others act and react and to the outcome of situations, we are respecting others as well as ourselves. 

Emotional freedom is obtained when we recognize everyone is subjected to human frailty… as humans we make mistakes…let us be gentle and not judge one another.

Letting go of our expectations and believing everything will turn out exactly how it is supposed to, allows us to move to a place of interacting with others with more ease and clarity without hidden motives or resulting disappointment. 

Genuine interaction occurs when we change our own perspective to one of faith and trust allowing others the respect and love to find their own way…there is freedom and spiritual growth for us in that as well…

May God Bless Your Journey -

Natalie