Expectations
“I’m not in this world
To live up to your expectations
Neither are you here to live up to mine, yeah
I don’t owe no one
No obligation”
Peter Tosh – I Am That I Am
Expectations high and low are the ruination of relationships and situations. It’s best to keep your expectations for yourself, not for others. And if you do make the mistake of placing high or low expectations on others don’t be surprised if they don’t or want meet your expectations. You see there is expectation and then there is reality. You have every right to expect such and such or expect a person to behave a certain way, but reality doesn’t always equal expectations. Which creates a problem for you, a problem you totally created through your expectations. But we all place expectations on people and situations all the time. This is somewhat insane behavior because in reality your expectations can’t control situations or people’s actions.
Expectations are illusions or premeditated resentment, we place our displeasure or judgement on people or situations, from pass experience or the limited information we’ve gathered. Expectations are also our way to create order (one plus one equals two), our mind likes order. However reality is the punch in the mouth. As Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth”. So when our expectations are not fulfilled we become disappointed. We behave like the little kid that takes his ball home because the other kids want play how and when he want them to play. We want everything our way, but life isn’t one way, and the other little kids have every right to not play with the “ball hog kid” the next time he comes around. Yes, you have the right to expect something of me, and I have the right to disappoint you, and I also have the right to not give a damn when you are disappointed. As harsh as it sounds, people don’t have to follow our script.
Yes, we often follow scripts to meet others expectations. The workplace is full of actors, reading from the same script, auditioning for the same role, trying to meet the unsustainable expectations of their co-workers and bosses. Everyday is different, meaning we have high and low energy days. We aren’t always in the best of moods, or should I say a talkative mood. But people expect you to be talkative and upbeat, and if you’re not they talk about you around the water cooler. So to not be talked about people, or miss out on promotions people feel obligated to contort themselves to others expectations. Which is a big mistake, because they will still talk about you, and you may not get that promotion. So be true to yourself place expectations on yourself not others.
Peace and Happiness
Thanks for reading,
Jawanza
Blog, Personal Training, Semi Private Training, Group Fitness, Bootcamp, Bastrop, South Austin 
Reblogged this on Whimsically Yours and commented:
Placing expectations on yourself and not others is an important life lesson. It’s one that I’m continuously learning, especially relating to my writing…I can only control me, I can hope things turn out as I expect them to, but in the in that’s all dependent on a bunch of factors I can’t control. Take care of yourself and cater to yourself and meet your expectations for yourself, that’s really all you can control 🙂
-Patrice