Calm Down, Come Alive Series: Alter Your Expectations for a Better Experience

Our expectations determine how we experience our reality. Learn how to engage in present moment thinking so you can release your preconceived ideas of how life “should” be, so you can embrace and fully wake up to what it is. 

 

Expectation is one of the root causes of our suffering. 

 

Our experience in life is colored by our expectations - expectations of others, of society, and of ourselves. And then, there are also the expectations others have of us. 

 

But, we can let go of our expectations through the power of awareness and present moment thinking.

 

How so, you might ask? 

 

Consider this story of the Thai Buddhist master and the broken goblet:

 

“You see this goblet?” — asks Achaan Chaa, the Thai Buddhist master.

 

“For me, this glass is already broken. I enjoy it; I drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, sometimes even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. But when I put this glass on the shelf and the wind knocks it over or my elbow brushes it off the table, and it falls to the ground and shatters, I say, “Of course.”

 

When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.”

 

By learning how to release our expectations, we reduce our suffering and improve the quality of our life experience.

 

I share a present moment living practice you can begin today so you can wake up to experiencing your life through a whole new lens.

 

If this episode was valuable to you, be sure to check out our popular Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Happiness Course You Can Be Mindful! by going here. In this course [with acclaimed mindfulness expert Dr. Shauna Shapiro], you’ll learn how to develop and deepen your mindfulness practice for greater clarity and calm.