Expectations

photo credit: Steve Shogren

Expect the best of people and that's what you'll get. I've always felt this to be true, and I've never been disappointed. Perhaps that's because I've realized everyone is doing the best they can, even if it doesn't seem very good -- ha! A friend said yesterday that she had, once again, been disappointed when someone didn't keep their word to her. She stated that it "always happened to her". That's what got me to thinking about her expectations and mine. I'm reminded of the old story of a woman out for a walk and meeting someone who had just moved to town. She was asked what the people were like here. She turned the question around and asked what the people were like where the newly-arrived woman was from. She responded that they were wonderful. "Well, that's what they're like here, too!" Another day the same situation happened with someone else, but when she asked what people were like where the man came from, the response was that they were rude and mean. "Well, that's what you'll find here, too." Perceptions are everything, don't you think? I can look at a situation and see joy, but someone else may find problems and sadness. Perhaps it goes back to my favorite one of Ruiz's Four Agreements: Don't take anything personally! 

"Sit quietly and look upon the world you see, and tell yourself: 'The real world is not like this.'" A Course in Miracles T-13.VII1