Hope Vs. Expectation

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life."

Being an expat and living a life of uncertainty, has thrown me into a lot of thoughts on how to live daily life and how to navigate human relationships and interactions. Living harmoniously with everyone takes an art, the art of subtle existence, patience, and hoping for the best yet expecting the worst.

This morning as I started contemplating, I was intrigued by the difference between hope and expectation. As we start through the day we always have high hopes, and some sort of expectations. Let us look through the very fine line between these two.

If we expect something in life, the journey will become painful. The problem is not the actual situation, but rather the psychological hardship we have to endure due to the unmet expectations. One good book that clearly define the difference between hope and expectations is "Awakened Heart" by Dr. Gerald May (Click below to get a copy).

The book defined "expectations" are unrealistic clinging to impossible beliefs demanding exactly what we want. Expectation is rigid, inflexible and limited based on the past experiences and of the things which are already known. 

Expectation heavily influences how  we see things, react and interact. It negatively results to uncontrolled emotions if we hold on and don't let it go.

Hope on the other hand is much more lighter and positive. It is a wish for something to happen, flexible and accepting of whatever the outcome will be; trusting the ultimate Author of our fate. Hope accepts reality, it is more grounded but never resolve to complacency. It is evolving, spontaneous and always allows others to grow. Hope isn't limited to what we already know in the past. We can always hope for things we don't even know or see. It majestically influences our dreams and aspirations.

Hope admits uncertainty, it doesn't wither when goes unmet. It does not breed eternal misery after all since it can be adjusted. Hope keeps on living in us and helps us moving forward filled with life.

Hope is love. Love is hope ;)

Thanks for reading. 'Till next. Ciao! Salam! Aloha! Bye for now...