Expectations: The Dark Side of Positive Thinking

Related reading:


Slade Roberson - What’s Wrong with What You Want?


David B. Bohl  -  Does Guilt Have a Message for You?



Some quotes for the road:

"Life is so constructed that an event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation." ~ Charlotte Bronte

“Happiness equals reality minus expectations” ~ Tom Magliozzi

“There is hardly any activity, any enterprise, which is started out with such tremendous hopes and expectations, and yet which fails so regularly, as love.” ~ Erich Fromm


“I am open to the guidance of synchronicity, and do not let expectations hinder my path.” ~  Dalai Lama

Comments

[Duff]

Yea, expectations will get ya every time. And yet, I can't stop setting goals! Somebody help me! :)

[Liam]

I love the graphic, but that looks really painful.

"The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain." Aristotle

[Alex Fayle]

Love it! And so true, which is why I keep my goals and expectations very big picture. When I start getting too detailed I derail or discourage myself.

Cheers,
Alex

[MonkMojo]

@Duff: Good luck with that goal setting problem. Remember the goal is to keep them out of The Expectations Chamber.

@Liam: Thank you. Yes, it is really painful. (I’ve had some big expectations.) And thanks for that great Aristotle quote!

@Alex: Thank you. They are a constant battle for me to some degree or another. Delicate balance between wanting to move forward but not investing too much emotion in the outcome.

[chris]

Well drawn...People sometimes forget that there's the pain of expectations when having dreams, goals, hopes, etc.

[MonkMojo]

@Chris: Thank you.