Today was not a great day. There was no ease. There was no flow. There were a series of tiny, but frustrating, turns that made getting much of anything done way more difficult than it had to be. We’ve all had days like this. Universal resistance. My partner describes it as “swimming through Jello,” and that sums it up for me. Usually I move through these times unfazed, a simple acknowledgement, maybe a bit of extra rest if I can. But today the resistance got to me and got me to thinking, what am I missing? What is this all about? And I came to realize something I am not super proud of.
Sometimes I simply expect too much. What I mean by this is, if I am being really honest, sometimes I feel pretty connected to the privilege of having a good day. Like, deep down, even if I am not willing to work very hard on it, I feel like because most of the time I do work hard, I deserve a good day just because. And, of course, that’s not how this works.
Bound up together in these difficult moments are expectation and entitlement. And, really, in this wide world, we are not entitled to anything. When we are disappointed or frustrated, it is because we had something different in mind and we are more invested in that idea than what is actually going on around us. Expectation is a dangerous way to engage with life, it is an imposition. In those moments of difficulty, we are better served by observation and surrender, or, failing that, gratitude. In recognizing and remembering what we appreciate, we are led to ease. We become soft-hearted and open. We find our feet again.
You’re so right . Sometimes, the higher we set our expectations the more chances we take of potentially being disappointed. Great post! 👏🏽👏🏽
By the way my name is Jessica and I run a blog that thrives on empowering people! I’d love for you to drop by and check it out sometime! I’d love to connect with you here in the world of blogging!
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Nice to meet you Jessica!
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As a perfectionist I now at 63 years realise I need to surrender lauren
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Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes, difficult. But always necessary. Thank you for taking the time to share. 😊🙏
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Thanks, healthcare background with time spent caring for others. Now retired & learning to care for self 🙂
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Beautiful. 💜
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I love this too and very much appreciated your wonderful way of acknowledging your feelings that I think perhaps we all ponder from time to time, perhaps not in the same beautiful way of stating it.
My own way comes from a collage soul card I made years ago. I would collage pictures on them and then write my feelings for that card and specific time. I have not found a way to capture them all in some sort of files so that I can use them on my own blog, but I am sure I will. I just cannot spend a fortune and there are currently some 76 of them from the years 2009 – 2011.
I am the one who ponders
The road in life
and what it means to me
And to all of us.
Why am I here
And what is my purpose?
Have I done the right things?
Am I one of the players
In the Great Plan someone
Created for everything?
Or am I just
A biological adventure
of nature.
Anne Copeland – 2010
Thank you so much. See, even when something is troubling you, you may be opening a door for someone.
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Love this, Anne. Thank you! 💗
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“Swimming through jello” – that’s a great way to express it! You have some good thoughts here re. expectations & entitlement. (I’ve been there).
Thanks for this today!
🙂
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Thank you! I appreciate it.
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