Keep Your Expectations High - delete the judgments

Ahoy there shipmates!

Its a gray, wet day here so taking a few minutes to share some important thoughts.

A friend of mine posted on FB this morning :

"Expecting leads to judgments, which leads to disappointments. When you accept life the way it comes that you find happiness in the moments, not looking beyond what is already there.
Happiness is a choice, an attitude if you will. It exist differently in all of us. Its not in the circumstances. Its not something we see or feel. Its something we are. Therefore it can never come unless you appreciate who and what you are. "

Now, I agree with much of this, namely:

(1) When you do accept life as it is, live in the moment, you'll find happiness
(2) Happiness is a choice

I do not agree with his statement that those expectations ultimately lead to disappointments, thus implying that we should not hold expectations.

Expectations are the seeds of creation! When we maintain high expectations of ourselves and of those in our charge or in our sphere of influence, we open a path for excellence. We get into trouble (experience a state of unhappiness) only when we attach a negative judgement to those circumstances, which most certainly occur, fall below those expectations we set. Moreover, we are most likely not only going to experience that unhappiness ourselves, but spread it around to all within that sphere!

I've seen many times over my careers that those in my charge performed much better when I held high expectations for their success. I've found the same for those expectations I hold of myself!

Along with those high expectations, it is important to provide not only the tools to succeed, but the faith that it will happen. When errors/failures happen, we simply and without judgement offer tools and encouragement to improve. We do maintain a high degree of accountability, but do not apply a judgement . When it becomes apparent that that individuals, and even our own, actions just aren't going to meet those expectations, we simply let them go. No drama, no unhappiness!

There is no person or no thing that can make you unhappy!

Maintain high ideals and high expectations. And, do make the choice to be happy