There's a subtle art of making people go above and beyond of what is expected of them.
Usually, a good trick is showing/telling that you don't expect much from them, that they have the freedom to do whatever they want to do.
Of course, on the other side of the spectrum, one may be glad that "much isn't expected of them", since they wouldn't have to venture outside their comfort zone or put in extra effort.
You know, the "you're good, either way" type of mentality.
But then also, in certain situations, when much isn't expected of you, you tend to experience this freedom of having the opportunity to experiment and try out new things that are a bit unconventional.
I think the latter is where zero expectations finds a fertile ground to flourish, the only catch is a certain lack of structure.
Exploring without any restrictions/limitations can be chaotic, especially at the start, knowing it can lead to breakthroughs and innovations that may not have been possible within the confines of traditional expectations is a good driver to keep going during such a phase of chaos.
Broadly speaking, I view expectations as a way for setting standards, a bar to aim for and reach. How high or low this bar can be set is mostly a subjective matter, influenced by factors such as cultural norms, personal values, and individual abilities.
That said, from a collective perspective, we have societal expectations, following the norms and rules that govern our behavior and interactions with others.
From a practical standpoint, financial expectations play a significant role in shaping our lives. For example, the responsibility of earning living expenses to stay above water or living below your means to accumulate savings, are all necessities that we cannot ignore.
Arguably, one could also say that these are like pre-installed software on a computer, you just run with it and try to maintain it as much as possible.
We are expected to meet these financial obligations, and failure to do so can result in negative consequences.
Every now and then, however, there's a glitch in the software, and we meet someone who challenges our assumptions and expectations.
For me, the experience is similar to a "rug pull", having your perceived foundation swept away and finding yourself falling to the ground.
At first, it's more of a disorienting and even scary experience, how could our expectations and assumptions that are deeply ingrained in our sense of self and our understanding of the world be shaken up and reconfigured, like a computer system undergoing an update?
Two choices, loosely let go of our expectations and assumptions, becoming a bit more receptive to new ideas and experiences, OR firmly hold on to them and act like what we've just experienced is but a flimsy memory.
Without actual context, no choice is right or wrong. But this is where the idea of zero expectations comes in.
In that, when we approach a situation(or even a person) with near zero expectations, we are open to whatever may come our way. We are not limited by our preconceived notions or assumptions of what should or shouldn't happen.
Of course, letting go of our expectations, even gradually, is never easy. It requires constant practice and patience.
I think expectations aren't necessarily the main driving factor on how we perceive and interact with the world, but they do shape our experiences and can limit our potential for growth and discovery.
Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.
