When I decided two weeks ago to re-focus on gratitude, it was my way of healing my way back to normal. Gratitude has been a life-saver for me in the past and I knew it work again to move me away from grief, take away anger and frustration and make me more positive. As I began to look to think about doing this I realized that I must let go off all expectations I had. Expectations from life, from others and most of all from myself. As Kristi Nelson says, “When we release expectation and experience appreciation, all the moments of our lives become openings and opportunities”.
Expectations lead to frustration, anger, guilt and remorse and I’ve been going through all of these.
When I expect someone to respond to me with openness and they’re evasive, I feel frustrated and even angry. When things don’t go the way I planned, I am disappointed?
While I do try to work on improving the quality of my life and work, because I know, as Aldous Huxley said, “There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” But I have certain expectations of myself – plans and goals – when they’re not met I get frustrated or feel guilty.
I’m sure you can relate.
Letting go of expectations, choosing to look around and appreciate all I have, and even trying to see what I can learn out of ‘bad’ situations, that’s the path of gratitude.
This has been my mantra for the last couple of weeks:
I am greatly blessed I am highly favoured I am deeply loved And so grateful.
What are you grateful for today?
Today I’m joining Vinitha Dileep for Fiction Monday and Kate Mataung for Five Minute Friday
Being grateful and treasuring small things go a long way for our mental health. I agree when you write about things treasured in life. Have an awesome week, Corinne. It’s also true about expectations and with times, I am trying to expect less since it helps us not to indulge in self harm.
I expected much from life,
and for awhile I had it all,
but saw not cancer’s midwife,
the axe about to fall
that would leave my body broken,
nevermore to jump and run,
but spirit then was left bespoken
to rise and meet the Son.
Expectations dropped away,
and I could sudden feel
embracing warmth of my new day,
knowing that the grace was real,
and would take the shattered me
whole unto eternity.
I live in expectation of very little from humans – but I know that I can depend on all the promises of God.
“Letting go of expectations, choosing to look around and appreciate all I have, and even trying to see what I can learn out of ‘bad’ situations, that’s the path of gratitude.”
So true! Trusting God and looking to Him alone, stirs the gratitude that changes everything.
Gratitude and appreciation do help the soul. Thanks for the reminder to walk in gratitude today.
remembering to be thankful is a good way to bring contentment don’t you find?
Annette recently posted..Expectations
I used to say that a pessimist is really just an optimist who can’t deal with disappointment. After all, if you expect the worst, everything’s a pleasant surprise, right? 😉
I’m trying to remember to expect nothing. Not the best, nor the worst – hope for the best, plan for the worst, and be happy with everything in between.
Letting go of the need to be “in control” is also hard, but helpful. We’re not really in control of much, after all. Control is a bit of an illusion, at best. Just…do what we can towards the outcome we hope for, and let the chips fall where they may.
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This is so good, and I love your mantra.
Thanks for sharing.
Visiting from #32
Oh yes, I can very well relate to this! I have been feeling frustrated and angry at myself for not living up to my goals and plans. And what do I do? I set the same plans and goals week after week and end up disappointing myself again and again. One good thing I have done this week was restarting writing in my gratitude journal. And I am trying to learn forgiveness – forgive myself for not living up to my expectations.
Sorry for the delayed response to this post, Corinne. As I mentioned, of late, I am disappointing myself and others through my rattled actions.
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