I don't eat a lion, but that doesn't mean he won't eat me. This analogy illustrates how having too many expectations can negatively impact our mental health. Thus, maintaining low expectations of others is crucial for living a peaceful life.
I often find that the people I place hopes or expectations on do not meet them. It is human nature to desire others to conform to our standards and desires.
Expectations from friends, family, and relatives are rarely fulfilled. The worst habit is to have unreasonable expectations. Others don't need to be as sincere with us as we are with them. If we are kind, it doesn't guarantee a type of response. 80% of people behave quite differently than expected.
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Pain and suffering arise when reality does not align with our expectations. This misalignment often leads to anxiety and depression.
Human expectations are frequently limitless. We expect to achieve specific milestones by a certain age, such as marriage, family, career advancements, or reaching our goals in a particular way within a set timeframe.
Women, in particular, expect respect and trust from others. They hope their friends, relatives, and loved ones will always be sympathetic, benevolent, and kind. But when life doesn't unfold according to these expectations, pain and disappointment set in.
We tend to blame ourselves and others for our frustrations and unfavorable circumstances. When things go wrong, we often hear, "I didn't ask for favors; why were you doing them?" But changes are inevitable and uncontrollable. Dwelling on them only exacerbates our suffering.
To avoid these problems and suffering, we should limit our expectations. Fewer hopes mean fewer disappointments.
When we help others or are useful to them, we should be grateful that Allah has enabled us to do so. We should never expect rewards from others. Hope should be placed solely in Allah. Only the Supreme God can fulfill our expectations, leading to a more content and peaceful life.
