William Shakespeare said “Expectation is the root of all heartache”

As Westerners, this tends to be our downfall: expectation.

When unchecked, this becomes our Achilles heel, the thing that drives us nuts and ultimately bitter.
 Yet we do it.  Again and again.
 We expect our children to behave in a certain way – towards us.  We expect our spouses to listen and support us, at all times.  We expect our boss to give us the raise, the praise the whatever.  We wait.  Expectations looming in the dark.  Wants go unfulfilled.  Disappointment festers.  Yet here we are. Continue reading →