“Detachment from expectations leads to acceptance… acceptance leads to wisdom.”

Often people associate detachment with not caring. That is not what I’m referring to in this case. Rather, detachment, as intended here, is the ability to create some space between what you expect (which may or may not be true) and what really is. It is about creating a gap between what our sometimes crazily inflamed emotions might be telling us, and what is real, and most likely hasn’t happened yet.

For example when we get a message to see the boss, we might stir up some anticipation, good or bad, about why she or he wants to meet. We’ve created some sort of expectation. It is a human response. Or our birthday or anniversary is coming up, and we have the hope, anticipation, expectation that our loved ones will celebrate us in some way. And we’ve conjured up ideas of what might happen… what we want to happen, but may not have control over.

Think of a time when you’ve created a story, good or bad, about something you expected to happen that didn’t turn out the way you expected. What were the feelings during that time of expectation? What were the feelings that came up after it didn’t go the way you expected? Can you imagine that you might feel more peaceful and at ease if you hadn’t created the story and expectation? If you’d simply allowed an opportunity or experience to simply be without creating expectations?  Imagine how that same instance might have felt if you’d simply accepted what came along. How does that feel? Try out this idea over the next few days… simply accepting what is, and see how it affects  your day.

So as you move into meditation today, consider the above idea, then try it out for the rest of the day to see how it feels.