The Importance of Altering Your Expectations

Recently I seem to have stumbled on quite a few videos that talk about the harm in high expectations. It often happens that when I come across an interesting idea I'll suddenly see it everywhere! This probably just due to the fact that when you're feeling particularly receptive to an idea you tend to notice it more than usual. Whatever the case, I like that my brain works that way. ^.^

This particular idea was first introduced to me in this Jenna Marbles video:

Basically, in this video she talks about how her life turned out very different than how she had imagined it would. She says that if she'd restricted herself to following one path, she would've missed multiple opportunities available to her. Jenna differentiates between expectations and goals, and says that by lowering her expectations of both people and situations, it's allowed her to just accept the present and live in the moment. As someone who's grappled with anxiety and always living for the next goal and the future, I feel I've missed out on a lot in life. My ego has made me feel like I NEED to achieve certain things, which takes to joy out of it.



Another video that really brings this point home is a quick little snippet from an Alan Watts:

He has some really inspirational lectures if you're ever looking for something uplifting, and that British accent is so comforting :P


And then of course, Shia Laboeuf gives this solid advice:

He truly is the gift that keeps on giving. And this is solid advice, delivered in a highly memorable way. Not to mention it's super quotable:

"YESTERDAY YOU SAID TOMORROW SO JUST. DO IT. MAKE. YOUR DREAMS. COME TRUE!"

"Some people dream of success, well you're gonna wake up and WORK HARD AT IT. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!"

"What are you waiting for?? DO IT!"

Words to live by.