Surrender and Self-Examination

 I understand the concept of expectations leading to resentments. Broadly speaking, I try to remember that when dealing with myself and others. Expectations, though, can often be very subtle, hiding very well under my desire to be rid of them. I have enough trouble with the obvious ones! I expect certain things of people in leadership roles, in the government, of friends and family, of myself. When I am able to see the big ones, I can adjust my thinking, or set the intention to do so.

What about those hidden ones, though? How do I respond when someone cuts me off in traffic? My unexpressed expectation is that drivers won’t do that, but when they do, I resent them. My hidden expectation is that my food order will be just what my taste buds want, or that I won’t stub that same little toe on the same piece of furniture, or when I lay down at night, I’ll go to sleep quickly, or any number of things. 

Expectations keep me from being in the flow of life. They’re the distractions from being in the moment. They eclipse gratitude and foment discord within myself. They’re all the ‘shoulds’. When I can surrender to what is and look honestly at my reactions, I can find that the expectation underneath my conscious awareness is the dam in the flow. 

With the help of my Higher Awareness, I can find and begin to dismantle those dams, and resume my flow over and around the normal obstacles in living this life.


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