Expectations!

 

MY THINKING CORNER aims to share positive thoughts to encourage, inspire and motivate us on our journey in life and towards personal achievement and success.

Every Tuesday, Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha hosts a weekly challenge to share snippets of positive thoughts.  If you’d like to join in, please check out this link for further details.

 

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My Thinking Corner

(NB: Lady Cee aims to participate in this blog challenge on alternate Tuesdays)

 

 

 

 

Hello fellow-bloggers and visiting friends, thank you for dropping by.

I’d like to talk to you today about expectations.

My reason for doing so, is because I came across the following passage in a really useful e-book I like to dip into every now and again. It’s written by Jason Harvey—Achieve Anything In Just One Year—and I do recommend it for those looking for inspiration and self-help instruction regarding achieving your dreams.

However, whilst reading it today, I noticed the following statement:

“You can’t predict the future. What you can do is let go of the baggage of your past (so far so good) and move forward without expectations.”

What?!

Now if I don’t have any expectations for my future, where’s the excitement and motivation in pursuing my dreams? What would be the point of pursuing my goals?

I believe it’s the expectation of accomplishment which drives you, which enables you to keep putting your feet forward on that pathway of success, so why is it this experienced life coach is advising his readers to move forward without expectations?

Perhaps the author, sees expectations in a negative light. Certainly when you consult the dictionary it is possible to have good or bad expectations. And I know from my dealings with other people, from scenarios portrayed on TV and cinematic screens that it is possible to have unrealistic expectations.

So, if we are referring to bad, or unrealistic expectations then I totally agree with this author. But why doesn’t he say so? Why has he referred to expectations period?

If I was one of his clients, I would have asked him and I’m sure he would have been able to explain this odd remark.

But since he isn’t here to explain himself, here are my thoughts on why we should have expectations.

• Expectations (of the positive kind of course) are another way of describing hope.
• Hope gives you something to look forward to, something to aim at, or strive for.

My dictionary defines ‘expectation’ as a state, or attitude of expecting.

Everyone who sets out on a journey expects to arrive at their destination. You decide where you want to go, you decide how you want to get there and you take the journey.

Of course there may be set-backs. The road may be closed, an unfortunate incident on your route may lengthen the journey. You may have to stop off to eat refreshments, take comfort breaks or replenish fuel.

Whatever, your experiences along the way, you are still hopeful, still expecting to arrive at your destination. And, all being well, sooner or later you do.

As purpose-driven believers, and dream-achievers, my only caution is that our expectations should not be based solely on personal ability to make things happen. Our expectations, our hope should be placed in God.

Going back to Harvey’s statement, we of course do not know what our future holds. However, we know someone who does! Furthermore, he (God) is able to cause all things we may encounter (the good, the bad and the ugly), to work together for our benefit.

My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

(Psalm 62:5 NKJV)

Life happens!

On our journey towards success, towards fulfilling our destiny, we will undoubtedly face unexpected twists and turns, deviations, even derailment from the path we plan to pursue.

Only our omniscient Father-God, is capable of ensuring we arrive safe and triumphant at our journey’s end. So be expectant dear reader and trust him.

Purpose-driven believers and expectant dream-achievers, I wish you bon voyage!

 

Thoughts are free from toll – William Camden

 

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CREDIT: CC0 Image – Pixabay.com