It’s been a month since I saw Tony Robbins in Toronto. This was the third time that I had seen him live for one of his 3-hour presentations and while there was a lot that was the same, there was one concept that stuck with me this time. When he said that we need to shift from an attitude of expectation to one of gratitude, it just made sense. I don’t know if I simply missed it this time, or if was something that I needed to hear in in that moment.
Not having expectations is not easy for many of us. I know it hasn’t been easy for me. Sometimes I feel like we’ve been conditioned to expect certain things, which inevitably sets us up for disappointment. Whether it’s being told how family should react in certain situations, or the things that should happen when you first start dating someone, we hear a lot about how things should be done.
Instead of having expectations that may not be a part of your current reality, isn’t it better to appreciate what you have right now? I know that some may perceive this as settling, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about expressing gratitude for the things that are working in your life. It’s about finding a thought that makes you feel good, rather than one that makes you feel bad.
Expressing gratitude for life’s blessings doesn’t mean that you don’t want more for or in your life. It means that you recognize that even though there are things in your life that you are still working on, there is proof that you do know how to attract what you want in your life. Appreciation allows us to operate from a place of abundance rather than lack.
I feel like having expectations of others leaves us in a powerless position. We are waiting for someone or something to gives us what we want. It doesn’t matter if what we want is something material or simply a better feeling. I think that we are better off focusing on what we can do to attract the things we want into our lives and how to improve our own emotional state. When we leave these things up to someone else, we are bound to experience some disappointments.
It all comes down to perspective. We always have a choice when it comes to what we focus on. If focusing on the things that aren’t working in your life motivates you to create the change you want, then continue doing it. If that kind of focus leaves you feeling frustrated, angry or sad, then focus on what is working in your life. Start by writing 5 things a day that you are grateful for. Do it for a month and let me know what happens. I bet it won’t be long before you see the positive effects of releasing expectations and showing more appreciation.
Share your experiences in the comments below! ♥