When you expect something, it’s value decreases automatically. There’s always a chance the expectation might not occur, and even if it does, it’s value decreases because you expect something.
Expectation, in some ways, is a root of sadness. As far as I can remember, I have been sad and depressed most of the time because of expectation. I expect unreal things to occur.
The easiest example I can provide about expectation is my own birthday. For some reason, I believe I must feel super special during my birthday. I expect something surprising to occur. With that, I’ve set the bar very high. Something along those lines need to occur for me to feel happy.
Now here’s the thing. First of all, nothing might happen during my birthday. It might just pass as a normal day. And the second thing is that even if something does happen, I won’t feel super special because I was already expecting it.
So expectation is only working against me.
And as far as I can remember, I never had a happy birthday. I was always sad because nothing happens. In fact, my birthday is the day when I’m super sad and annoyed.
Thinking of it now, I realize it’s because of expectation.
Expect nothing, ever. That’s one secret I’ve learned for a happy life.
So during my next birthday, I’m going to work super hard, and not expect anything. Even if nothing happens, I’ll still be happy because I worked super hard on something meaningful.