Hello Hives,
I have been thinking about something lately, and honestly, I feel it is something many of us experience without even realizing it.
Sometimes, we get angry with people because they did not do what we expected them to do. We expect a friend to check on us. We expect family to always be there. We expect someone we helped in the past to return the favour when we need them. We expect people to understand us, support us, remember us and sometimes even put us before themselves.
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And when they don't, it can really hurt.
But one thing I am slowly learning is that not everything we expect from people is something they owe us.
This is where a sense of entitlement can become a problem.
You can truly care about someone and still accept that they have their own life, problems, responsibilities and priorities. Just because someone did not show up for you the way you wanted doesn't automatically mean they don't care about you.
Sometimes, they are simply dealing with their own battles.
I have also realized that holding on to these disappointments for too long can change the way we see people. Someone does one thing we don't like, and suddenly we start remembering every other thing they have ever done wrong. Before we know it, the person we once appreciated becomes someone we can't stand.
Was it really necessary?
Maybe not.
I am not saying we should allow people to disrespect us or take advantage of our kindness. No. There are times when you have to create distance and protect your peace. But there is a difference between setting a boundary and developing hatred for someone simply because they did not meet your expectations.
Sometimes, we need to ask ourselves a very honest question:
And that is “Am I truly hurt by what this person did, or am I angry because I expected something they were never obligated to give me?”
That question can change a lot.
People will disappoint us. We will also disappoint people, whether we mean to or not. We all are human, and nobody can be available, generous or understanding all the time.
So these days, I try to appreciate what people do for me without making demands in my heart about what they must do.
If someone helps me, I appreciate it.
If they cannot help me, I try not to turn that disappointment into hatred.
Life is already full of enough things that can disturb our peace. Carrying unnecessary resentment because someone did not behave the way we expected only makes it more heavier.
Sometimes, letting go of expectations does not mean you care less about people. It simply means you have learned to appreciate people without feeling entitled to them.
And honestly, I think that is a much more peaceful way to live.
Thanks for Reading