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Expectations will lead to a set of disappointments

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The formula to happiness is reality minus expectations: Don’t expect too much. FILE PHOTO | NMG

It was a busy morning, the doctor who just finished his night duty was just about to leave the hospital when he noticed that an elderly gentleman, in his 80s had arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. This was at around 8.00am. He stated that he was in a hurry and that he had an appointment at 9.00am.

He insisted that he wanted to get his stiches removed from any available doctor. The receptionist insisted that he takes a seat and waits till 9.00am. But, the elderly man was not ready to listen. Seeing their hustle, the duty doctor volunteered to do the needful as he knew that no doctor would be able to see him until another one hour. As he began to take the gentleman’s vital signs before evaluating the wound, the man was still restless and looking at his watch.

On examination, the wound was well healed, so the doctor began to remove the sutures and redressed the wound. While nursing him, they began to engage in a conversation. The doctor asked if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman replied that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. The doctor was curious and asked about her health, to which the elderly gentleman told him that she had been there for a while and was a victim of Alzheimer's disease.

As the doctor finished dressing the wound, he asked if his wife would be worried if the man was a bit late. The man smiled and replied that she no longer knew who he was and hadn't recognised him in five years. The doctor was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled and patted his hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

“When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be.” (Mandy Hale)

The best way to avoid disappointment is to not expect anything from anyone: Sometimes we create our own heartbreaks through expectation. Just because you would have done something for others, is no excuse to expect that others would do for you.

Simple things become complicated when you start expecting too much: Never get too attached to anyone because attachment leads to expectations and expectations lead to disappointments and disappointments leads to complications.

Turn your focus from expectations to appreciation: When you start shifting your focus from “expectations of how life should be” to “appreciation of how life is”, your life spins around powerfully and positively.

The formula to happiness is reality minus expectations: Don’t expect too much. It’s always wonderful to feel surprised rather than feel disappointed. Live in the moment, live in reality.

Live your life without worrying about others’ expectations on you: When you base your happiness and your life on other people’s expectations, you are bound to be disappointed. Instead focus on meeting your own expectations.