Expectations
Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.
–Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings.
Expectations are almost always the biggest cause of disappointment and unhappiness.
I’ve read this phrase a thousand times, but I never really understood what it meant unless I had been in situations where I had no other choice but to learn.
People say that life lessons are hard, we all have our journeys and our very own different struggles. But at the end of the day, no matter what the journey is, the destination will always be the same.
And once we understand this statement fully, it liberates us! And honestly, the only thing that changed in this whole experience is our outlook. Personally, for me, it has been a rough ride to learn this, considering I’m friendly & always go above & beyond for people I care about.
Because not everyone is the same, I’ve seen friends and family unable to reciprocate the same zeal & affection at times, I’ve seen selfish people benefited in the whole journey.
Does it mean that people, in general, are horrible? No. Does it mean I hate being disappointed? No. Has the journey been difficult? Hell yes!! But do I hate it? No! Do I regret being nice to people? No! Would I help others the same way I always did? Yes, but the only thing that would be different would be being brutally honest to myself that I’ll continue holding onto my innate quality because that’s who I’m & others will continue to be themselves. Therefore, if I receive love & happiness, it’s not because I deserve it, but because I’ve been blessed with wonderful people & amazing opportunities. 🙂 & if I encounter something unpleasant, there are going to be difficult yet rewarding life lessons that make me wiser.