That 'EXPECTATION TRAP'!

 

Life is really life.  LIKE we hit the sack tonight, thinking and expecting that tomorrow the sun will be dandy and shining, only to witness come next day, rains that initially irritated you until it worsens to become a heavy downpour that would later cause flash floods along the roads WHERE you need to traverse [regardless if you are a commuter OR a driver].  Too often, we're bombarded with almost 'picture-perfect' highlight reels of morning routines, aesthetic setups [either at home OR at work] OR even 'couple goals'.   WHERE does that lead us to?  You guessed it right dude!  Those 'ideals' can manifest as EXPECTATIONS.  Oh yes, EXPECTATIONS are WHAT we think will happen📗📙📘

On the other hand, before we know it, REALITY kicks in, REALITY happens and WHILE along the way we hoped that both will be the same, we all know that in real life, that script does NOT shape up as you and me thought OR expected. WHAT happens next?  That disparity of EXPECTATIONS versus REALITY can often lead to feelings of discontentment and worse, discouragement that even worsens one's state of unhappiness.  Please DON'T get me wrong.  It is perfectly fine to have hopes and EXPECTATIONS because in truth and in fact, optimism in the face of challenges OR changes can be a good thing💚💛💜

Here's the trap though.  Having a fixed idea of exactly WHAT should happen OR WHAT needs to happen in order for you to be happy can often lead to even more disappointment than IF you faced the situation with an open mind and with the pragmatic understanding that things might NOT work out the precise you wanted💥💥💥

To put things this way, EXPECTATIONS are our beliefs that we hold about the possible outcomes of an event.  WHILE those EXPECTATIONS can play an important role in determining WHAT happens and can contribute to a goal-directed behavior, they can also potentially lead to more disappointment WHEN reality does NOT match up with WHAT we hoped to happen😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  Allow me to make reference in that tough basketball world in the NBA where most players WHO end up being awarded contracts by the ballclubs become the affirmation [and sometimes validation] that a player is talented enough at the level of NBA standards for hoopsters.  Guess WHEN do we witness the gaps between EXPECTATIONS and REALITY?  It is WHEN PLAYERS thought they will have 'x' minutes of playing time, only to end up warming the bench most of the time.  WHETHER the coach is right OR wrong for the player's limited time is moot and academic because the FIX here is for the player to temper his own EXPECTATIONS!!!