Happiness and Expectations – Tinkering with life’s basic beliefs
“Learn to value yourself, which means to fight for your happiness” Ayn Rand
It is difficult to get everything in life. Right? But unfortunately, not many accept this simple binding truth. Or just plain ignore it, at least subconsciously.
Unfulfilled gratification, aspiring enrichment, seeking satisfaction and unrealized happiness, therefore, sucks human beings into a self created black hole called ‘expectations’. To expect a lot more than what one deserves is the evil at the core of the entire human existence.
The myopic ‘expectation–dependent’ approach that humans are so obsessed with seldom allows them to open out to a larger canvas – where life has much more to offer. This obstinately dug in anchor which one can’t get rid of keeps the subconscious bound to a tunnel vision which has the same person peeping from the other end. The rest of the world for him is alien. One sees himself in the mirror and perceives the goodness of life on the basis of how the reflection looks. And sadly the reflection always sulks, for, it only shows the truth.
No one can guarantee satsifaction. It is within you...
Gratification, satisfaction and happiness are three elusive pillars on which life is planned to balance. But these seem so near, yet so far, like an evading shadow that one can only chase but never reach. Result: A dissatisfied present. Now the question is how to acquire these three simple truths? Is it at all possible? The answer is yes. But only if we are ready to see the world, and those around us, at home or work with a newer perspective. Only if we change our definition of good and bad, desirable and essential, must and might or win and lose. Only if we open our eyes to a new world where enlightenment reins, not expectations. This is not a preaching lesson. Nor is this a physiological or a religious discourse. It is mainly a way of calming yourself in the heat of the moment. It is just a method that allows you to find yourself. And the icing on the cake is, it is so goddamn easy.
It is just the way we look at life. The trouble is we look at it from our own obsessed point of view. We seek enrichment of resources, because others have them or we come to know of them. We seek enrichment of resources, because others have them or we come to know of their existence. We seek gratification because we wish to achieve most difficult of personal agendas because others can do it too. We seek satisfaction because everyone else has everything. And, finally, we need happiness because everyone else is happy. The real trouble is not someone else, but you yourself.
Now, let us try the other way. Let us just pledge to be happy with whatever we have achieved in life and work. Instantly, a feeling of satisfaction will permeates the conscious which in turn leads to gratification and finally a feeling of enrichment. Now, suddenly, life doesn’t seem ridiculous or insignificant anymore
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Count smiles that we all can help spread...
In short, try to find happiness in any situation and stop expecting what others have. Expectations fuels dissatisfaction because to meet expectations of all people at all times is a biological, social and commercial impossibility. So why chase a mirage. Let’s turn the whole thing around – Count smiles, court friends and catalyze from what you have, not what you don't.
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Hi Dsampath,
Smile: what a great phenomenon that it is for humans. It just lights the whole world around us - changing the way we look, we feel, even troubles seems faraway ( reminds me of John Lenon's 'yesterday' song).
I won't say we are opur greatest enemy. I reckon we just are ignorant about our aspirations and our latent potential.
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i liked the smiles..
we ourself are our graetset enemy.
we cant have the cake and eat it too.
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Hey Yash thanks. Let us pledge to take life as it is, without expectations.
Cheers!
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A beautiful and inspiring write..Loved it
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