Essence of Expectations

We have all been there: Why do expectations exist? Why do people keep expecting from me? It would be better if expectations didn’t exist at all.

But, would it?

The human society has come a long way, from striking up rocks to pressing a button, for a fire. It seems quite fortunate for us, being born in this age of comfort, happiness and creativity (though, it seems it is lacking in some of the representative people). I know that you struggle to submit your project, or a particularly difficult work presentation. Nevertheless, I guess we can all agree on the fact that the humans of today have to deal with a lot less stakes than our ancestors.

One can argue that people are losing the life from them, just working 9 to 5 everyday for 45 years. The loss of life directly decreases any significant stake, making us just a complex combination of hard bones covered by soft elastic muscles and skin, and nothing else. Survival is easier, but living is more difficult.

There is a counter argument: We define our history from the winners of the period. We read the books written in that epoch and wonder why it doesn’t exist today. What we fail miserably to do is this: Imagining the life of the common human being. We just look at the sugar-coated books and music written by a precious few, and be nostalgic for what we don’t have. The majority of the average Joe lived a life we can never imagine of; the hardships, the pain and cruelty. We say we have lost any signs of life. The thing is, our ancestors worked for things we now take for granted, and had less life in their eyes than we currently have.

Also, most of the people who say life is lost are young adults and teenagers, who have just gotten out from their protective innocent little bubble and are seeing the world in a realistic view. They have not yet adjusted to the adult world, and are making such claims. There is always the spark of life in everything you do. Just work in whatever you love best, and you will have nothing to worry about. Just do not relate being bored with the lack of essence of life. For those not convinced yet, just take a trip to nature, and realize that most people of the past couldn’t do such a thing.

Now, steering into our topic, why expectations are important? Well, the only thing it has ever done is bring us to the present stage of the world. Expectations have boosted our civilization, taking us through a long journey. We are currently at a rest stop: the age of Science and Technology.

The expectations people put among themselves, and the expectation we put upon ourselves has collectively made us strive for the best results, in effect, differentiating us from the rest of the living beings. I expect myself to finish an article a day, which will change me for the better. Some people expect themselves to innovate, directly or indirectly. Other people expect themselves to live a comfortable life, and will work hard (quite uncomfortably) to achieve that.

This psychology of humans is closely related to the fact that they are largely unsatisfied creatures. We are unsatisfied with the world we are in, and so we expect ourselves to find creative methods to make it better, in effect developing and contributing to the civilization itself.

You may not realize it, and even after reading this, may be in denial, and I don’t want to burst your bubble, but you are expecting something every step of your life. Hope and expectations are fundamental in nature, and are intricately intwined with each other.

Expectations create failure, as well. But, creating that as a base for your argument against expectation is not sensible, because the experience of failure makes you expect better of yourself.

If you have read till this point, I congratulate you. I didn’t expect you to come so far.

I hope you will stop to ridicule expectations from yourself, your co-workers, your parents and pretty much everyone you meet.

It is fine to be exasperated out of the sheer amount of expectations you have from people. You know what, just ignore them, and delve deeper into what you expect from yourself. Don’t go around pleasing everybody’s expectation, instead work on your own sensible and based expectation.

So in short, expectations are the bits of life, that in essence, make you grow, develop and live.

Have fun living your life.

I’d like to ask for forgiveness for matters relating to grammar and spelling. In any condition that you do not agree with me, your opinions are welcome, as long as they are thoughtful and articulate.

Constructive criticism is valued