Removal of Expectations is the key to contentment

[Manic Webb]

Saying that one's life is or isn't meaningless depends on what you're comparing [i]life[/i] to. Any one of us could have never been born, and the Earth would still be rotating around the sun, and the universe would still be moving in an unknown direction at some unknown rate. In the grand scale of things, our lives are worthless.

However, in terms of our own planet and all of the other lives and things on it, our lives are pretty darn significant.

See? It's all in one's perspective.

[James]

[color=#808080]I think it's important to note that expectations are not the same as goals. If you [i]expect[/i] something to happen, then you are taking for granted the fact that it should happen. It doesn't mean that you're working towards a particular outcome, necessarily.

It's important to have some expectations (we all need to have them), but if we start expecting all the major things in life...we're basically getting to a point where we know what's going to happen and where we are taking everything for granted -- as if nothing will be different.

A big aspect of life is the spontaneous nature of it...and the fact that more often than not, things happen that are outside our own control.[/color]

[Ravenstorture]

Was it Euripides who said that people get angry because they expect better of the world? I hate humanity, I hate the world we have created, I think the worst of everything and everyone including myself until they prove me wrong, and so I'm never unhappy about things going wrong. I'm just unhappy when I make them wrong, or when people continue to be themselves.

If you expect nothing you should be happy to get it. Unfortunately expecting something of people doesn't mean you'll get it. *glares at cloricus*

[Guest cloricus]

Yes, well I'm sorry that I am myself and your attempts to change me have failed. Bit of a shame but thats the way it is.
See you shouldn't have expected much. :P (Am I still blocked?)

I don't expect much, which is why I'm really happy when I get things.
(*Points to new computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*)
..Oh wait you people don't care because your not geeks...
*Goes off to PC/MAC forum*

Eps - 3 POSTS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!

[Manic Webb]

Expecting something bad to happen is still an expectation. Expecting the worst in people is still an expectation. It's also cynical. I honestly cannot see a way for anyone to eliminate [i]all[/i] expectations. Impossible, I say. Whether any one here wants to admit it, we all expect [i]something[/i]. You might expect to eat the next day. You might expect that your internet connection won't fail you. You might expect that you'll be able to reach OtakuBoards. You probably expect to wake up tomorrow.

And so I reinforce the idea that goals are different from expectations. A goal is something you try to make happen. An expectation is something you think will happen, regardless. Your goals give you expectations. You expect to achive your goals. If you don't expect to achive your goals, then they're not really goals, are they? Sounds more like a series of petty attempts, to me.

The issue here isn't to rid yourself of all positive expectations. I don't expect my mother will turn into a snake-haired gorgon monster. That's a pretty positive expectation.

The real issue is to keep realistic expectations, good or bad. One must learn to keep a balance between their negative and positive expectations; between naivite and cynicism.

Realism.

[Subversive]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[B]Yes, well I'm sorry that I am myself and your attempts to change me have failed. Bit of a shame but thats the way it is.
See you shouldn't have expected much. :P (Am I still blocked?)

I don't expect much, which is why I'm really happy when I get things.
(*Points to new computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*)
..Oh wait you people don't care because your not geeks...
*Goes off to PC/MAC forum*

Eps - 3 POSTS TO GO!!!!!!!!!! [/B][/QUOTE]

If you meant expecting material possesions I don't expect much either. I meant expecting stuff as a basis from others and yourself, why you don't have to do this to live, most seem to do it subconsiously. For example you expect people not to punch you for no reason *jumps under table*

[Orien_Xel]

[color=blue]Be an optimist. If life wasn't worth living and just a string of unfourtunate events then we would all commit suicide. [/color]

[Lady Macaiodh]

[color=darkblue]I thought of this after I read Ravenstorture's post.

Occasionally, I get a sick satisfaction when I know something's going to get really screwed up, and it does -- even though I've done everything in my power to stop it from happening that way. That's why I don't get as disappointed as others would. I feel somewhat vindicated -- I know I did the right thing, & I recognize that I can't be in control of the world.

Then there are times when I'm so frustrated that I want to scream my head off, even with my vindication. It's like, "What did I put all that effort into it for? What a waste of time."

So here's the question: [b]Should we always try to do the right thing, even though it's a waste of time?[/b] If you know it's not going to make a difference, that is.[/color]

[Subversive]

Yes, but every time you do the right thing it does make a difference, no matter how small.