Expectations

“People become what they expect themselves to become.” Mahatma Gandhi

 

“The most important thing is for each of us to have some freedom in our heart, some stability in our heart, some peace in our heart. Only then will we be able to relieve the suffering around us.” Thich Nhat Hanh

 

A couple of very good quotes from my Oriental Wisdom Calendar. There is a lot to think about in those two quotes.

 

I have many times heard people complain that they will never be able to accomplish anything in life. They are doomed because _______ fill in the blank with any standard excuse. The excuses usually attach blame to something or someone other them themselves. People don’t understand them. They are discriminated against because of their weight. These people have doomed themselves to failure because they don’t really want to change. They are comfortable in their little niche and are afraid to try. They have low expectations for themselves and they will settle for what they have rather then dream further and work for those dreams.  

 

One of the songs from my childhood was “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.”  Along with the sunshine there must be a little rain sometimes. If you have the unrealistic expectation that life is always going to be wonderful then you are not going to be able to live a happy life because life can be cruel sometimes. There are things that are not in your control. Natural disasters occurs. Katrina comes and devastates one of our most famous cities. New Orleans is still struggling to overcome the devastation of a year ago. People are killed that are an important part of our life.

 

If we don’t have the peace in our hearts that the second quote talks about then we are dooming ourselves to failure. You can’t help yourself or others if you are harboring hatred in your heart. If you can not find peace and love in your heart you can not show it to others. Bitterness in our hearts is represented by bitterness towards others. You have to have peace inside your soul.

 

The picture is called “Hunter” and again is from The Prisoner show. You have a choice in life,  you can embrace goodness in your heart and fight evil or you can just run away. The man has chosen to fight.