Expectations -

I can imagine how many will disagree with what I am about to say here, but it needs to be said in my humble opinion.  Before i say it though, i want to point out that whatever i write in my blogs is exactly what I say it is, "my opinion".  I don't claim to know everything.  I honestly don't know much about a lot of subjects.  I dabble here and there on several different topics, but i can only say I am an expert on a few.  In any case, here goes nothing.

Do you know why you get disappointed?  Whether it's with a person, or a situation, or in general?  It isn't because someone did or say something.  Well yes it is, but there is more to it then that.  We get disappointed because we have expectations.  We expect people to act a certain way.  Behave a specific way. Act in a mature manner or be respectful.  Right?  And when they don't, we become disappointed.  So is it that person who has disappointed you or is it the fact that you held a belief which ended up not being true.  Does that make sense?

Example:  You are friends with someone.  You have been friends for a long time.  You know them and understand their behaviors.  Based on your knowledge of this individual you develop an opinion of them.  An opinion that leads to you having faith in them to do things a certain way, behave a certain way, act a certain way.  And when they don't, you are upset and disappointed.  You never shared your expectations with your friend.  It was always a given.  'they should know better...'  or, '...they know that isn't right...'  But you never said it to them.  You simply expected it of them.

So who is it that let whom down?  Is it the friend who was unaware of your expectations, or is it yourself that held certain expectations of this individual?

Well that's my opinion at least.  Take it for what it is.  I say, don't expect anyone to act any specific way.  And never say someone isn't capable of doing certain acts of behaving a certain way.  As anyone and everyone is capable of doing anything and everything.  Pretty big statement there, eh? Well I believe it to be true.  Given the right circumstances, anyone is capable of saying and doing anything.  So don't build yourself up for disappointment.  Simply let people be who they are.  And be yourself.  Expectations lead to sadness and disappointment.  I know this won't change people having expectations.  I simply hope that they will at least look at why they are disappointed a bit differently.