William Shakespeare Quote??

[Lifes2short]

Hi everybody,

 

I'm just chasing people's opinions on William Shakespeare's quote "Expectation is the root of all heartache". No doubt there is a lot of truth to this statement, but I think I only agree with it to an extent. To me it seems like quite the paradox. On one hand happiness can be derived from no having expectations of yourself so in a way you avoid any kind of disappointment right?? But on the other hand, if you have no expectations of yourself, how will you be able to achieve anything? How would you be able to live a fulfilled life? A self actualised life? This quote contradicts everything we all believe in. We are a minority of individuals who base our life around short term and long term goals, we have the highest expectations of ourselves! I guess there are multiple ways to achieve happiness??

 

Daniel

[A way to Actualize]

This is a really good question. Matt Kahn has many videos where he speakes about this subject. It is also found in the article: The 'Who Am I Question' is an old Paradigm, Here An Effective New One; near the end of the video found in the article. It is found on this forum.

[DanoDMano]

On ‎2‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 5:01 AM, Lifes2short said:

Hi everybody,

 

I'm just chasing people's opinions on William Shakespeare's quote "Expectation is the root of all heartache". No doubt there is a lot of truth to this statement, but I think I only agree with it to an extent. To me it seems like quite the paradox. On one hand happiness can be derived from no having expectations of yourself so in a way you avoid any kind of disappointment right?? But on the other hand, if you have no expectations of yourself, how will you be able to achieve anything? How would you be able to live a fulfilled life? A self actualised life? This quote contradicts everything we all believe in. We are a minority of individuals who base our life around short term and long term goals, we have the highest expectations of ourselves! I guess there are multiple ways to achieve happiness??

 

Daniel

@Lifes2short  Great question Daniel.

Here's my outtake of it. Have you ever heard of the saying. "Go with the flow"?

My wording of this is "The natural order" of all things. Including ourselves.  Yes expectation is the root of all heartache. Learn not to expect anything of our actions. Whatever will be will be. For instance, we're hungry, naturally we want to eat from time to time. Our expectation is that we'll find food in the fridge (if we've bought some). We open the door and voila there it is. Expectation fulfilled.

Now your looking for a job. In fact, your desperate for one. You have no money, your in debt, your girlfriends ready to leave you. You send dozens and dozens of resumes' out there expecting to find a job. Unfortunately your expectations go unfulfilled. You lose your girlfriend and you go further into debt because of it. Your heartbroken and in despair.

One day your waiting in line at a coffee shop (you'd be at work had you met your earlier expectations) and strike up a conversation with the guy behind you that gives you his business card because he likes your style. He hires you the next day for a job you end up loving. You also meet the girl of your dreams in the break room one month later. She becomes your wife.

Had you met your expectations when you sent all those resumes you wouldn't have the life you have today.

Moral of the story: Stop expecting things to happen your way. Let what happens, happen and roll with the punches because it's the "natural order". Try and stay positive through it all and positive things will happen. Start getting negative about it and, guess what, it turns negative. It's only natural.  

[Lifes2short]

@DanoDMano Excellent answer! Thankyou

[vizual]

Expectation is simply a rigid form of attachment. When you look at an enlightened person they obviously still engage in certain attachments or else they could not be present in duality. But what they don't do is confuse their attachments for truth. What most people do is that they depend their own happiness on the outcome of their expectations, they will 'die' every time an expectation does not come to fruition. They become their own expectation and of course this will lead to pain, a lot of pain. 

A more healthy way is to engage in your attachments from a place of love. You can still do the things you want to do but your happiness(and your life) will not depend on the outcome whatever that attachment may bring.

 

Edited February 17, 2016 by vizual