The Path to Peace: Embracing Life Without the Weight of Expectations
It is said that we should center our attention on what we desire to invite into our experience—disproportionately focusing our time, energy, and attention more on what we want to experience and less on what we don’t want. For most of us, this vein of thinking calls us to create new patterns of thought that focus more on the substance of our desires and less on the object of our fears. In theory, this concept seems simple enough until old habits resurface, threatening to pull you back into the practices you are working to evolve. This post will explore practices to support you in releasing the weight of expectations.
Whether good, bad, or indifferent, viewing your desires through the lens of expectancy often leads to giving up. The sheer weight of expectations can block your attempts at manifestation.
Relying on past experiences shapes your ideas (aka expectancy) for how things will manifest. Naturally, we all want to feel like we have some semblance of “control” in our lives. Only the ways of the Divine are beyond figuring out. In other words, we can plan and curate a vision for how we believe things will pan out. However, how the universe manifests our intentions is beyond human conception. Likewise, disproportionately focusing our efforts on how we think things should manifest (aka expectations) limits our availability to receive a better outcome than we could imagine.
Within a day, our thoughts can run from contemplating our most coveted dreams and aspirations to thoughts of the worst that could happen. Focus on the best that could happen, and you elevate your mood. Focus on what is not working, and your mood will surely plummet.
No one gleans anything good from dwelling on downward-spiraling thoughts. But alas, we often find ourselves in this exact space. Thankfully, we are creative beings with the imaginative faculty to think independently of circumstances. Thoughts create reality in that we always experience the outward picturing of our thoughts and feelings as our physical reality. Hence, change your thoughts, and you can change your future.
Practice
Take time throughout the day to notice the directional flow of your thoughts. Observe and accept what is while persistently releasing judgment and opinions based on what you believe you should be experiencing. Allow your observations to inform you. Notice the content of the flow of your thoughts and any self-imposed expectations.
Should your attention drift away from your intended focus, pause, take a few deep cleansing breaths, and shift your focus to better-feeling thoughts, release all striving, and give yourself permission to tune into deep listening, fully feeling into what arises, allowing your nervous system to settle until you feel relief. Remember to exercise patience and grace with yourself, as developing new habits takes time.
Revisit this practice as often as needed until you develop the habit of checking in with yourself throughout the day to honor your well-being.
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