Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

~ The Ninth Beatitude – Alexander Pope, 1688–1744

When I expect nothing, it is easier to stay in tranquility (composure, calmness, poise, self-control, level-headed).

It can be tough to welcome each day with “no” expectations, but it is one of the many things that can create a loving and full life experience.

When I do not have any expectations, I am always in a state of gratefulness and grace and everything I experience is like a miracle.

If I live my life with expectations, I will always be disappointed.  Life and people are sometimes not what I expect them to be.

How can anyone or anything meet my personal and preconceived expectations?  This is not possible.

If I approach life and people through the filter of my expectations, I have entered a delusional state of mind that believes life and people “should” be something different from what they are.  This puts me into judgment, and I lose respect for anything I am judging.  Reverence for life and people cannot exist if I expect them to meet my expectations.

So, if I feel disappointed by life, by people, I have to do a reality check and ask myself what my expectations are?  What story did I make up in my mind that life and people are not complying with?

My preference is to be surprised by life and people, it is so much more effortless, and life is so mysterious and miraculous when I have no idea what is about to unfold.

“To find your life’s purpose, have no judgments about your life, no expectations, and give up the need to know what happens tomorrow.”

~ Caroline Myss