Daily Question, March 6 How might I approach life with fewer assumptions or expectations? 39 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. GCharlotte1 year agoGCharlotteI might take life as I do by the moment without assumptions about expectations for the days even months and years. 1 Reply Present Moment1 year agoPresent MomentPractice, practice, practice bringing myself back to present moment. It is the only place I live and neither assumptions or expectations make any sense there. 1 Reply Tahsin Tabassum1 year agoTahsin TabassumI can’t 3 Reply Present Moment1 year agoPresent MomentOh, but you can! Eliminate the negative thoughts by letting them go and you will see them automatically replaced with positive thoughts in the future. 3 Reply Tahsin Tabassum1 year agoTahsin Tabassumthank you! 2 Reply Malag1 year agoMalagThis is the hardest practice of all for me and is central to anything that may make me anxious and how I may relate to it. “Fewer expectations” for me comes down to not expecting things to be other than they are. A frequent expectation for me is that things should be as I want them to be. May I and anyone else who experiences this be able to bridge that gap to acceptance. 7 Reply Michele1 year agoMicheleThank you I agree:) 3 Reply Palm1 year agoPalmGood question for me at the moment. Thank you, your answers are helpful. They point me towards curiosity and letting go. Assumptions: is what I’m thinking really true? Expectations: Angel Kyodo Williams says that love is spaciousness, or to let others be who they are. To recognise that behind people’s behaviours there may be suffering, if we trust in the human heart. I can start from this point of view, to accept differences. I will need practice on this one. 6 Reply 1 year agoThank you Palm, because your words are like a balm, in a moment of a great challenge with my choir group. I will need practice and I am so happy to walk with you. 3 Reply Palm1 year agoPalmOh Anna, your words are a balm too at the moment, thank you from my heart for walking with me 3 Reply Javier Visionquest1 year agoJavier VisionquestExpectations are an integral part of the process of manifestation, assumptions are an inherent aspect of the human condition challenging us to further awaken to a clearer understanding. Rather than allowing them to upset our ego-backed sense of correctness perhaps it’s a matter of learning to use our expectations and assumptions to these ends rather than being used by them, all the while staying present and open for a surprise resolution! 5 Reply Ose1 year agoOseI suppose this might be a matter of balance. To stay centered, allowing joy and gratitude to be with me right where I am, leaving space for what is meant to be. 7 Reply Cailinrua1 year agoCailinruaThis is a tough one. Thanks for the posts below which help me begin to think about it. My life at the moment, in retirement, is a lot different and a lot harder than what I had imagined it would be. I am changing though as I learn to accept it, but there is always that feeling of "what happened here.?" Why did I let it go so wrong? Some of it was stuff I could control (if I had been emotionally up to the task) --it wasn't a natural disaster--so I'm being forced inside to re-evaluate. It'...This is a tough one. Thanks for the posts below which help me begin to think about it. My life at the moment, in retirement, is a lot different and a lot harder than what I had imagined it would be. I am changing though as I learn to accept it, but there is always that feeling of “what happened here.?” Why did I let it go so wrong? Some of it was stuff I could control (if I had been emotionally up to the task) –it wasn’t a natural disaster–so I’m being forced inside to re-evaluate. It’s a struggle every day. Read More5 Reply Present Moment1 year agoPresent MomentLiving in the illusion of being in control is a youngsters game. 1 Reply reality1 year agorealityLiving closer to nature would help most with that; i.m.h.o.. 🙂 reality 4 Reply Dawn Noel1 year agoDawn NoelWith humility and by believing in myself & my connectedness to the great mystery, that enfolds us. Also by abandoning myself to a sense of wonder and gratitude, trusting in them to carry me through with grace. 5 Reply TeriB1 year agoTeriBBeing more present, living in the moment rather than the past or future might help me approach life with fewer assumptions or expectations. It seems I am always striving for or counting on something that will happen in the future or reliving the best parts of my past. I need to focus on the journey and begin to appreciate every step on my way and by doing this so much more may open up to me. 7 Reply BabaYaga1 year agoBabaYagaReplacing my habitual pessimism with a wait-and-see attitude. How do I know how things will turn out? I just might be surprised! 5 Reply Katrina1 year agoKatrinaI thank you all for your help with this one. It is the bane of my existence. As I retired I had great expectations for travel and exploration, only to discover many ways these would or could not be realized the way I had imagined. I have been sorely disappointed and depressed. I have now tried to realign my assumptions and expectations about everything - relationships, finances, my own health as well as that of others, and even our current national and world condition, so that I can find joy in ...I thank you all for your help with this one. It is the bane of my existence. As I retired I had great expectations for travel and exploration, only to discover many ways these would or could not be realized the way I had imagined. I have been sorely disappointed and depressed. I have now tried to realign my assumptions and expectations about everything – relationships, finances, my own health as well as that of others, and even our current national and world condition, so that I can find joy in where I am, without being too disappointed about not realizing some life-long dreams. It is a work in progress, with the help of prayer, this community, other meditations and trying to find new hobbies and interests. Thank you all for your constant faithfulness. Read More4 Reply Gypsy1 year agoGypsyyes, new interests – what else will you explore as you painfully shed your expectations [OUCH] Tell us some things that you are going to delve into, and why. [If it helps, I am a shut-in with a giant and thrilling world at my fingertips – heh – and brilliant sunlight outside my window, so it CAN be done!!] 4 Reply Present Moment1 year agoPresent MomentLOVE this! 1 Reply Hunter1 year agoHunterI might start by not checking the “news” compulsively! I certainly do NOT know what will happen next, and that has always been the case. And as people have been saying, there is so much that is simply out of our control, which is. . . a good thing! 6 Reply Michele1 year agoMichelebeautiful owl pic:) 1 Reply Carla1 year agoCarlaBy continuing to trust & grow in the ability to say I AM in the right place at the right time. Emphasis is on the “am”, whether it’s my location in a driving intersection or who surrounds me in the grocery store. Letting go of my need to control my external locations & actions has allowed me to “be” more in the moments of life. 3 Reply Cathy1 year agoCathyI find my approach to life much more smooth when I can look at things with a sense of curiosity instead of judgment. I am working to change my thought patterns from: “This is bad.” to “I wonder why I feel like this is wrong? Why do I get that sense of bad from it?” or even “Oh wow, this is so good!” to ” I wonder why I feel so excited about this thing?” I find the sense of expectation fades into the background as I take the time and energy to look at something from all side...I find my approach to life much more smooth when I can look at things with a sense of curiosity instead of judgment. I am working to change my thought patterns from: “This is bad.” to “I wonder why I feel like this is wrong? Why do I get that sense of bad from it?” or even “Oh wow, this is so good!” to ” I wonder why I feel so excited about this thing?” I find the sense of expectation fades into the background as I take the time and energy to look at something from all sides. Read More7 Reply Trish1 year agoTrishPrayer, meditation & remaining open to God’s plan are the healthiest tools for me to use for a happy life. I’ve tried to control my environment, to include people & it leads to tension and disappointment. When I find myself controlling I remind myself of the mysteries of life. It’s all gonna work out in the end….. 4 Reply Present Moment1 year agoPresent MomentYes! Love wins. 3 Reply Dusty Su1 year agoDusty SuYes, when we think we know best we loose much. I can always learn more, see more, be and do more, as can others. How? Look deep and we often find. 5 Reply Michele1 year agoMicheleI might approach life with fewer assumptions or expectations by not having any or lower them. Having high expectations only leaves you with disappointment for the most part I found. 2 Reply Katrina1 year agoKatrinaThat is what I don’t want to do, Michele. There are things I want to do now that I am retired and I don’t want to lower my expectations. That would be leaving me with disappointment and maybe regret as well. 1 Reply Michele1 year agoMicheleGood for you! I was referring mostly to people, not things you want to do. 1 Reply devy1 year agodevyBy not letting the actions of others define my mood. By trying to focus on the present, especially when my mind wanders into « what if » mode which often brings negative thoughts forward which n turn brings anxiety’s ugly head to the surface. When it does come me up I remind myself that I cant control everything in my life and as the title in an old Dorisg Day song « que sera, sera »::what ever will be will be comes to me.. we can’t assume what the future is.. often if I assume it wi...By not letting the actions of others define my mood. By trying to focus on the present, especially when my mind wanders into « what if » mode which often brings negative thoughts forward which n turn brings anxiety’s ugly head to the surface. When it does come me up I remind myself that I cant control everything in my life and as the title in an old Dorisg Day song « que sera, sera »::what ever will be will be comes to me.. we can’t assume what the future is.. often if I assume it will make an ass out of me..it never happens..no need for unwanted negative energy Read More3 Reply Kevin1 year agoKevinHow might I approach life with fewer assumptions or expectations? For me, this one is easy: By stopping approaching life with unreasonable assumptions and unachievable expectations. 3 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb