I laughed when I read this the other day:
Happiness = Reality – Expectations
Reality minus expectations means if reality is a lot worse than what we expected, we’re going to be unhappy. For me it was the opposite, adult life has been a lot better than I expected, and I feel blessed. On the other hand, when I expect things to go smoothly, it’s easy to feel frustrated when obstacles get in the way.
This post was going to be completely different this afternoon, but a number of things didn’t go “right” the past day or so, and as I write this I’m on hold trying to resolve one of them. Clearly I need to work on my sense of humor and redefine what “right” means. 🙂
November 11, 2015
I was not impressed with the reality at a bank recently – my expectations on their move to new premises it would be like my own personal bank which is has the modern and the semi-old for those of us who like service – not facing another bloody machine. The machinery actually got it wrong which was even more worrying!
That sounds like a real nuisance!
I date two ladies. Both claim that they have no expectations of me!
An accurate formula up to a point. Elaborate expectations can totally ruin an experience which could have been fine if you’d simply taken it as it was. Then again, I think it’s quite possible to discard the expectations and say, Well it’s not what I expected, it’s quite different, but hey, I like it anyway.
Having expectations about anything seems to be a sure way to become unhappy! Actually, that sounds a bit pessimistic…is it safer to expect a “so-so” day? I’m a little short on the wise, philosophical sayings today—expecting too much of myself?
Growing up I always heard:
Don’t get your hopes too high and you won’t be disappointed.
Expect the worst.
If something can go wrong, it will.
and I always thought like that.
Then when I became an adult I met someone who is now my best friend. When I first said these things to her she was shocked!
She said things like
You can do it!
You never know until you try!
I have faith in you!
You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to!
and it seems like my life became much happier around that positive energy of having high hopes and dreams than being negative and fearing the worst.
(although it’s a daily struggle to remember that and focus on the positive. I still have the fear of ending up living in a cardboard box.)
i have always loved a detour!
but…
maybe sitting on hold type of detour… not so much. LOLOL.