One of the significant lessons that I have learned from life is being in control of my expectations. This is the way I have always approached life; it has greatly helped me escape from so many disappointments and have led a peaceful life, even in the face of unpredictability. In a world where outcomes often lie beyond one's control, keeping your expectations realistic, without being tied to people's promises, gives a person so much control while navigating life's ups and downs.
I have learned to approach life full of hope rather than entitlement. I really try to be a better person, to be optimistic, and yet I do not attach my happiness or even my plans regarding trust to what the assurances of others can bring. For example, I have seen people hinge their lives on promises from loved ones or colleagues, just to experience heartbreak when circumstances did not deliver the stated promises. This doesn't mean the people are naturally unreliable; sometimes, even with good intentions, things in life make it impossible for them to keep or fulfill their promises.
That is the way I have understood how life works and how promises are fulfilled. I really appreciate it when people promise me something, but then I keep them in prayer with the hope that they will be in the capacity to honor their promise when the time is due. To me, life often seems to be akin to investing in a volatile market, such as fluctuating cryptocurrency. Investments in relationships, career, or ventures do have their intrinsic risks. Just like investors do their studies before putting their money out into it and prepare for losses in order to atone well for it, so is how I have learned to deal with situations in life.
Once, for instance, I trusted someone who made big promises about an opportunity that sounded too good to be true. Initially, I would get carried away by his confidence, but then it dawned on me: my rule is "research and manage expectations." Therefore, I dug deeper and found that the deal had underlying risks. I still went ahead with it, but I was careful. When things did not exactly work out, I was not dismayed because I had prepared my mind for less than ideal. I have seen people go through a grueling heartbreak in relationships when one has trusted someone without question. It happened to me too.
At some point, I felt someone who was very close to me would always put my needs first, as I put hers first. This person failed me, and that was a crucial moment of my life that really hurt me. But as time went on, I began to understand very well that she had not failed out of intent, but life had merely presented her with challenges I did not quite understand. This experience has reinforced my belief in relying on God over that of man. Humans can sometimes falter or fail, but God is faithful, and He is an anchor that does not move for humans amidst life's turbulent seas. I have learned that living effectively in this unstable market called life requires one to be flexible.
This does not mean I compromise my standards or cease living with hope for good things, but balance my expectations with what reality is in light of the uncertainty in life. I enjoy when things go well and do not let my composure slip when things don't work out. For me, it's always about finding gladness in small victories and moving forward, even in the face of setbacks. Managing expectations doesn’t mean living a life without having trust or hope. What it really means is guarding your peace by accepting life like any speculative venture; it can yield unexpected outcomes. When you anchor your trust in God and approach life with balanced expectations, you create space for gratitude, even when things don’t go as planned.
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