Sans Expectations !!

Life teaches you great lessons every now and then. Sometimes, these are subtle experiences while some other times they are overtures to a life-changing revelation. While sometimes you are inured to these changes, some other times you are left devastated and bewildered.

A new facet of living life has recently found its way into my very own set of life philosophies which I have embraced, endured (sometimes!) and cherished all through – SANS EXPECTATIONS !!

Confused? Well, here’s the deal. For the past several months, there have been innumerable instances where I have felt hurt or upset or angry. Initially, I tried to parry off such feelings and force my thoughts into some semblance of order as I didn’t want to jeopardize what I had over some petty issues. Sadly, though, I couldn’t seem to clear my head off these feelings.

But, then a strange thought flitted through my mind. Retrospecting into those moments of the past made me realize a very important thing. I had found the wicked culpable behind all the disquietude and those pangs of anxiety – Expectations!

Had I not been expecting so much out of a certain individual or a situation, I would have been a much happier soul all these months. It the root cause of all the discomfort one ever has to experience with someone/ something. Put away that feeling of ‘it should have been this way’, ‘you should rather have done this’ or ‘I thought you/it would turn out to be this’ and the ilk.

One might argue that without expectations, we would just be living in a world where it is every man for himself, a world without feeling for others as some believe with love and care come expectations. True, maybe! But problem comes when the other half of your expectation (!) doesn’t reciprocate likewise and you are just left feeling hurt and sorry for yourself.

Believe me when I say, the lesser you expect something of someone, the happier you are. Think of the last time you felt upset or hurt - was it not because you had anticipated something different out of someone/something. Notwithstanding the fact that it is difficult to take in and at the risk of sounding too utopian, I would want to live by this now on – where my only expectations are from myself and I have no qualms about the fact that I would never want to hurt myself, ever!

Well, can’t say about you, but I, sure, am feeling a lot better now - sans anger, sans resentment, sans expectations – just PLACID.

Cheers,
Piyush.