To Have or Not Have Expectations

We all have our beliefs about the way people, places, and things should be, and have expectations that they will be, or go, the way we want them to.  An expectation is a belief about what might happen in the future, what is likely or probable.  It can be an exciting anticipation and eagerly awaited, or something negative and dreadful may be expected.  There are two philosophies when it comes to expectations:  to expect good things and have good thoughts (specifically or in general) until proven otherwise, or have no expectations, thereby circumventing disappointment.  High expectations can lead to dissatisfaction and disappointment if things don't go the way we think they should, or someone doesn't do what we want them to.  When this happens, we become frustrated and tense, and perhaps even feel sad, or as if there was a loss.  Hopes are crushed and days ruined.  Some people have said, "an expectation is a premeditated resentment," or, "an expectation is resentment in the making."  Benjamin Franklin put it this way, "Our limited perspective, our hopes and tears become our measure of life and when circumstances don't fit our ideas, they become our difficulties."  It is common for us to have expectations of ourselves, but we can't see progress on our goals if our expectations are unreasonably high.  The root of being disappointed is our unwillingness to accept ourselves, other people, places, things, events, or generally our circumstances in life, as being different in any way from our expectations.  Very simply, we want things to be a certain way.  When we don't get what we want we may fight and suffer.  On the other hand, when we let go of our expectations, especially those that are unreasonably high, we move into acceptance of what is.  We are able to lighten up and enjoy life more.  The only exception to this is if we are working to  improve ourselves for the good.  Granted, it is wonderful to look forward to the fulfillment of something wished for, but it is also important to be prepared if it doesn't come about.  There is also something to be said about worrying about something negative that might happen in the future, because most of the things we are overly concerned about, or "expect" never come about.