Day Twenty Seven
Surrender…Expectations
“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” ―Bruce Lee
I love this quote. It rings true for me when you make the choice to live an authentic life.
How do you feel when expectations are placed upon you by others? Do you feel burdened? Do you worry about disappointing another when you don’t live up to their expectations?
Another question to ask yourself – Do you expect others to behave, act or live their life in a certain way? Do you sometimes expect your partner, children, parents, and friends to think, choose, or live their life the way you do?
Pause. Note how this next phrase makes you feel as you read it – Everyone wants to be free to be themselves with no exterior expectations or pressures. May it be social, cultural, religious or based on another person’s belief system.
As a direct result of the exterior expectations ingrained since birth, you unconsciously created self-imposed expectations as well. No wonder it’s so challenging to live an authentic life!
How do you free yourself to live an authentic life? Begin with the following realizations about expectations.
Realize: when you feel expectations from another, you don’t feel accepted for who you are in the moment. Same is true for the other person. When you expect something from another, you are not embracing them for who they are in the moment.
Realize: everyone wants to be free to just be themselves. To free yourself you also need to free another? If you want to really live an authentic life, you must ask yourself: Am I are allowing others to live their authentic life? Doesn’t it go together? You can’t expect others to free you of their expectations if you keep them bonded by your own.
Realize: Expectations are rooted in fear. When you have expectations, you are not in the present moment. You are anticipating and wanting something to happen in the future.
Realize: Based on the definition of expectation: a belief that someone will or should achieve something, you see that haunting word, “should” in its definition. The “should’s” are based on individual perspective. What is true for one is not necessarily true for another. How does it feel when someone expresses their “shoulds” upon you? Their “shoulds” are based on their truth and their expectations. Same is true when you project your “shoulds” upon others. When you say, “you should,” it’s based upon your truths and expectations.
Realize: On an unconscious level there is need and want to control when expectations are placed upon another. Often, it’s not intentional when someone wants you to act or choose a certain way. It’s a learned behavior and it’s habitual.
Realize: When expectations are not met it could lead to disappointment. Either disappointing another or disappointing yourself.
Realize: Expectations are based in fear not love.
Day Twenty Seven
Trust…Your Authentic Self
What if we are all just seeking unconditional acceptance?
What if we all just want to be free of future expectations, so we can live more fully in the present moment?
What if we all just want to be free to express our own unique, authentic self?
Are you ready to free yourself and others? Isn’t the time now to initiate this freedom?
You can start right now. Open your awareness and see it as a gift for you to choose a newfound sense of freedom. Here are some suggestions …
Awareness: When you feel expectations from another
Choose: Your truth. You may need to speak your truth, or you can just let it go and surrender it up to the Divine and move forward choosing your truth.
Awareness: Catch yourself when you say “should” to another
Choose: Change it to, “you could”. Suggest and choose the word “could” which empowers them to choose for themselves.
Awareness: When you fear disappointing another, realize it presents an opportunity to heal.
Choose: To be honest and share your fears about disappointing them or let it go and surrender it up to the Divine.
Awareness: You are holding yourself back in fear of being your authentic self.
Choose: To call upon Divine support and face the fear with courage so you can finally break free to be your true authentic self.
Awareness: Any time expectations come up see it as a manifestation of fear
Choose: Love, forgiveness, acceptance, and freedom
Day Twenty Seven
Reflect and Journal…
Where do you feel expectations coming from others?
How can you choose to free yourself to live your authentic self?
Where do you hold expectations for others?
How can you free them to live their authentic self?