Expectations

We used to live simple lives. Most still do. We did not all expect to be rich, famous or heroic. We put one foot ahead of the other and lived day to day.

We were born, raised, part of a family and community. We knew our place and our place knew us. We were able to meet realistic expectations and thus found happiness in our success. We learned a trade, married, had a family, worshipped in the faith that was presented to us and eventually died. We were valued and remembered for our contributions.

That is no longer the case. Expectations are set sky high to match what others did and obtained. We are never satisfied so can never be successful. We are never happy.

Too many choices leads to decision paralysis. A guy was presented with a few eligible women to marry and picked one. Or it was arranged for him. A woman was given the same few realistic options.

Now we have endless choices with dating apps showing us thousands of potential mates. Endless books, videos and information bombarding us each and every minute. We can go anywhere and move anywhere. Shopping gives us vast choices for anything and everything.

We flounder in options and misery. We are never satisfied with what we have so can never be happy.

If we have a hundred dollars we lust after a thousand. If we have a hundred thousand we want a million. Look at all the Billionaires and even Trillionaires. They too want more and are never satisfied. What chance do you have if even the most educated, wealthy and good looking can’t arrive at a destination they can consider final.

We are all hungry ghosts. Defined in Buddhism as A hungry ghost (known as a preta in Sanskrit) is a sentient being in Buddhist cosmology undergoing a temporary, miserable state of rebirth driven by intense, unfulfillable cravings. Aways attached to things and situations that can never be permanent. The ultimate impermanence being death.

Get this. Your mission when you incarnated on Earth was not to find that which can never be found. Everlasting health, vitality, wealth, power, influence, reputation, position, fame, glory recognition, youthful beauty, peace, happiness and immortality.

The riches and most powerful have the same odds as the poorest most downtrodden beggar. They both eventually die and the luggage stays where it is.

Freedom can only exist when you are happy with life and with where you are and what you possess. You can strive to improve and you should. Just don’t expect to live forever because you won’t.