What Should You Expect?

I remember it as clearly as if it happened yesterday.

A couple of years ago I attended a chamber mixer and I had an expectation that I would win one of the raffle prizes - - and I did! A friend of mine asked if I really had an expectation of winning or if I was just hopeful.

That question caused me to really think about what I felt at that particular chamber mixer compared to all of the others I attended. And I could feel a difference. I actually did expect to win something. In fact, I was quite sure of it. Usually, I’m just hoping my name would be drawn as a winner, but not that day. Something within me was different.

When I got home, I went online and looked up the definition of expectation. Here’s what I found: “the act or state of looking forward or anticipating; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or coming of.” 

Hope sounds like “wouldn’t it be nice if…..” and expectation sounds like, “I am looking forward to …..”

My mindset was definitely in the expectation zone. 

In my last three blogs on Mindset (Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life), I wrote about our habitual thought patterns, how to identify the thoughts which need to be changed, and three steps we can take to change our thinking.

In my humble opinion, the final piece of the puzzle is expectation.

We encounter a lot of mixed messages regarding expectations. 

On the one hand, we are told letting go of expectations is the beginning of peace. We don’t want to expect too much because we might be disappointed. Take the following two quotes as examples:

• “If you expect nothing from anybody, you’re never disappointed.” ~ Sylvia Plath
• “Low expectations is the key to happiness in life” ~ Christopher Miller
  

Even Buddhism teaches us that an attachment to expectation causes suffering. And who hasn’t heard the phrase, “hope for the best but expect the worst?”

These all clearly point to the perils of expectation

However, on the other hand we are told to live our life with big dreams and exciting expectations. We don’t get what we hope for, we get what we expect. And here are two quotes that back up this idea:

• “Expectation is the key. You get what you expect.” ~Abraham Hicks
• “Expectation is a mindset. Expectation evokes the Law of Attraction.” ~ Bob Proctor

And these point to the power of expectation

So, which one is true? Should we let go of our expectations in order to experience peace and not be disappointed or do we claim our expectation in order to create an exciting and dynamic life?

Expectation is born from belief. If we plant a radish seed, we expect a radish will grow.  We don’t hope it will grow and we don’t intend for it to grow. When we turn on the light switch, we expect the lights will turn on. We don’t hope the light turns on and we don’t intend for the lights to turn on. We take action and we expect results. We have a particular faith and belief in the logical outcome of our action.

There’s a difference in having an expectation in universal spiritual principles and expecting people to behave in certain ways. There is a precision and a certainty in spiritual Law that we don’t find in the tapestry of human choices and behaviors.

Expectation in the Infinite exudes confidence. It is a forceful attraction factor in the creation process. Expectation doesn’t flinch if our outer world doesn’t quite match what we ‘think’ is in our inner world. Expectation holds firm to an outcome. Expectation doesn’t demand immediate results; it is patient, calm, and unwavering.

This is easy to see in the physical realm. We can wait for a radish or a tomato plant to produce. We don’t rush things and we celebrate and jump for joy when we see even the tiniest sprouts of green coming up to the surface.

The trouble occurs when we move into the non-physical (mental/spiritual) realm. For some reason, expectation flies out the window and all we do is hope. 

We must not let expectation to slip into hope.

Hope has a best friend called doubt. And if doubt creeps into our thoughts, our power to create something new is negated.

So, if you’ve been following my last three blogs, perhaps you’ve identified a few key thoughts you want to change in order to create a happier, healthier, and more prosperous life. You need to couple these new thoughts with expectation. Maybe you want to see change immediately and others may tell you that you have “unrealistic expectations.” I say that your expectations are perfectly realistic (your life will change), however, the timeframe may be overly optimistic and based on hope rather than belief. 

You must avoid the trap that doubt sets for you.

This week, pay attention to your expectations. Feel the confidence when you expect something to happen and it does. For example, you expect to get to work on time and you do; you expect the grocery store to be well-stocked and it is. Doubt doesn’t enter your mind. 

With that level of conviction, let expectation be a partner to your new thoughts and enjoy the magic of living the life you love – a life filled with passion, power, and purpose.

Say YES to yourself by activating the power of expectation!

P.S.  If you want to read the previous articles, click the links below

#1:Bounce Back to a Better Normal

#2: Blastoff can be Harder than Expected

#3: Picasso's Foundational Key to Success

About Janet

Janet is an effective 'Belief Change Expert' who helps clients go from Overwhelm to Overjoyed, from Confusion to Clarity, and from Surviving to Thriving. Whether you want to grow your business or grow your self-esteem, Janet helps people believe in their own potential and transform their dreams into fulfilling, inspired, and prosperous realities. Janet can help you get the rapid results you are looking for.