“Expect
nothing, live frugally on
surprise.” ~ Alice Walker
Good
Morning!
When
a friend of mine was going
through some challenging times, I asked her what solutions she could
brainstorm
to help her get through her difficulties.
Each of her solutions relied on someone else.
“If
only she could…”
“It
they would just…”
“He should have…”
Sometimes
the expectations we
have of others can interfere with our ability to live a rich and
rewarding
life. When
expectations prevent our
taking action and responsibility, we limit personal power and build a
roadblock
on the path to happiness.
We cannot control
other people,
regardless of how well we know them or how close we are.
Anytime we do control another, we are
engaging in unhealthy patterns and manipulation. We are not
qualified to control other people;
we have a hard enough time controlling our own thoughts and actions.
The journey of life calls on us to learn to
control our own thoughts and actions.
To
“expect nothing,” as Alice
encourages, is not about giving up hope, but about releasing
expectations. Instead
of placing our needs in the hands of
others, we place them where they belong – in our own hands and in our
own
faith.
When
we put our needs in our own
hands, then the positive actions of others become blessings versus
expectations. We
don’t feel “let down”
if something doesn’t happen, but rather inspired when something else
does.
Your Turn:
What needs have you given to others to
fulfill for you? What
have the results
been? Who are you
waiting on in order to
move forward? Do
you blame anyone for
holding you back in any area? What
step
can you take today to recall your needs and place them in the only they
can be
fulfilled – your own hands?
Today’s Affirmation:
The only expectation I hold is to personally
commit daily to living my best life.
