Expectations: Our Achilles' Heel

 

Oh, the weight of what we think must be,
The chains of "shoulds" that bind you and me.
Expectations, both loud and sly,
Are promises false that cause us to cry.

Upset blooms when things go awry,
But the seed is planted by thoughts that lie.
If we released what we hope or assume,
Would peace and joy not fill the room?

Expecting safety where none is sure,
Builds up the risks we fail to endure.
We think, “They’ll honor what they’ve said,”
But blind belief leaves trust for dead.

Why, then, do we cling so tight,
To hopes that cloud both day and night?
First, we feel safe, though danger’s still near,
Hiding the truth we refuse to hear.

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Second, we dream of a world aligned,
Where all turns out just as designed.
But fantasy fades, reality wakes,
And disappointment's the toll it takes.

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Third, we escape the choices we fear,
Avoid the courage to make things clear.
If risk we faced with open eyes,
Would courage rise, would freedom arise?

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Lastly, we push through pain and strain,
Believing success will soften the pain.
But clinging to future joys ahead,
Wages a war between Now and Next instead.

Do not confuse what you hope to achieve,
With the traps of belief that make you grieve.
A want can bloom without demands,
If it fails, no blame withstands.

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An intention, though rooted in resolve,
Can remain free of anger to absolve.
A promise, too, holds inherent risk,
To trust it blindly is never brisk.

And when a prediction goes astray,
Curiosity serves where blame may stay.

Beware the words that poison the air,
“Should,” “must,” and “fair” are traps to beware.
Each sets the stage for a war with the real,
A battle no soul will ever heal.

Instead, let life’s games be played with care,
Assess the risks and choose what you’ll dare.
Undo the fear of what might not be,
And open your heart to possibility.

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Say to the doubt, “I see you, friend,
But I will not let you twist or bend.”
Through breaths and laughter, shout it aloud,
Undo the chains and stand unbowed.

Find joy in the journey, the process today,
Whether or not it all goes your way.
For when Now and Next can walk hand in hand,
Life’s risks feel lighter, the view more grand.

So root out the habits that lead you astray,
Catch each expectation and send it away.
With eyes wide open, no blame to assign,
The game of life becomes truly divine.