| According to Webster's New World dictionary | | | | go on a diet and by day three wonder why |
| expect means "to look for as likely to occur". In | | | | you're not a size smaller. Or, after a couple of |
| other words there is an anticipation of a likely | | | | dates you wonder why you haven't found true |
| outcome. Expectations are the collective group or | | | | love. Recently, I took two challenges. The first |
| groups of thoughts we gather as we look for | | | | was a writer's challenge-to write 30 articles within |
| something likely to occur. If we exercise we | | | | a two month period-in addition to work for paying |
| expect to gain better health, if we treat people | | | | clients and other projects. The second challenge |
| with kindness, we expect to be treated with | | | | was a commitment to practice "hot yoga" 5 |
| kindness, if we show up for work each day, we | | | | times a week for seven weeks. This morning as I |
| expect to receive a paycheck. Based on statistics, | | | | finished my sixth article, I felt like throwing in the |
| these events are likely to occur. | | | | towel. I wondered why agents and editors were |
| Expectations give us hope. They are a reason to | | | | not calling me, and why my "best seller" is not |
| get out of bed in the morning, push beyond our | | | | finished. I expect to be extremely successful |
| limits, and reach for higher levels of personal | | | | writer and know I will be, but I was expecting it |
| evolution. According to many new-age thought | | | | now! As I was practicing "Hot Yoga" today, I had |
| teachers, the law of attraction (what we believe | | | | a light bulb moment. I was in a compression pose |
| creates our reality) makes us 100% responsible | | | | nicknamed "Rabbit Pose". You kneel on the floor |
| for our lives. There is a great deal of legitimacy in | | | | with legs pressed tight together you roll your |
| this belief provided we back it up with action and | | | | entire spine down toward the floor. With your |
| our circumstances support the belief. For example, | | | | forehead to your knees, and arms holding your |
| if we believe, (deep in our soul believe) we are a | | | | ankles, you raise your hips and round your back |
| basically good human being, deserving of love, we | | | | outward. I always struggle with this pose. I feel |
| are likely to create an open atmosphere of love | | | | claustrophobic and have difficulty breathing. Today |
| and trust. As this positive energy surrounds us, | | | | I realized--I may never learn to love or even like |
| we attract loving relationships and often a | | | | this pose. I had expectations this pose would |
| compatible life partner. | | | | become easier the more I practiced--instead I |
| However, if we focus on the expectation and fail | | | | experienced a deeper level of fear and |
| to take consistent action or have circumstances | | | | discomfort. |
| that cannot support our beliefs; we set ourselves | | | | Fortunately, I have learned another lesson in yoga |
| up for guilt and failure. We can feel devastated | | | | that is helping me when my expectations, |
| when our expectations can not be fulfilled, or | | | | circumstances and actions don't line up. Breath, |
| fulfilled on our time table. If we believe that we | | | | yes that's right...just breath. Hold the pose (keep |
| are entirely responsible for our reality, we set | | | | writing, building your business, or taking the next |
| ourselves up for failure and guilt. Perhaps you are | | | | right action to obtain your goal) and breath. This |
| still single and approaching forty or fifty. You begin | | | | morning as I complete this article I can hear the |
| to feel like a failure because you have not | | | | nagging voice of fear. It tells me I'll never be really |
| attracted a life partner. Despite the fact that you | | | | successful doing what I love and I should get a |
| have many loving friends, and enjoy your life | | | | job. It's a familiar voice. And so I breathe and |
| tremendously, you begin to doubt yourself. | | | | write some more, breathe and write still more. At |
| "Surely, if I believe I'm worthy of love, I'll attract | | | | the end of the day, I know I've taken one more |
| my life partner". Now let's say you are a | | | | step and one more breath to create the life I |
| heterosexual male and work on an all male crew | | | | desire. Once again I trust that I'm exactly where |
| on an offshore oil rig. Belief will not bring you a life | | | | I'm supposed to be, right here at this moment |
| partner. No matter what you think, you're not | | | | with these thoughts, this body, these set of |
| likely to find a mate until your circumstances | | | | circumstances, and these expectations. |
| change. Under these circumstances, failure to find | | | | Tomorrow morning my expectations will greet |
| a mate had nothing to do with you. Believing you | | | | me first thing. Once again, I expect a successful |
| are 100% responsible for your reality in this | | | | writing career. I will go to my office early with all |
| situation is ridiculous and will cause feelings of guilt. | | | | my expectation. Then I will sit down and write |
| Finally there is the challenge of maintaining | | | | one more article, one word at a time and relish |
| expectations when goals are not met quickly. You | | | | my journey. |