Living in the NOW
Expectations vs Reality
The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately
Seneca
How many thousands of hours will the average person spend in their lifetime worrying?
Lets explore some of the consequences for this unnecessary stress we’re putting on ourselves:
Cardiovascular system: Stress can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and the production of stress hormones like cortisol, which can contribute to the development of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
Immune system: Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
Mental health: Stress is strongly linked to mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sleep: Stress can disrupt sleep patterns and cause insomnia, which can further exacerbate stress levels and contribute to a vicious cycle of stress and sleeplessness.
Not to mention the affects it has on the musculoskeletal system, respiratory system and digestive system.
Take the time to evaluate what's in your sphere of influence: your reasoned choice.
To expect anything to be is a recipe for disaster.
"Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day" It's pouring rain, and a tornado just took out a neighborhood a couple of miles away.
"I'm going to be there on time, honey" You get stuck in traffic because of a wreck.
"At the age of 65, I'm going to be rich with this stock portfolio" You don't live to see 65
I'm not trying to turn you into a pessimist because after writing that, I sure do feel like one, but what I'm trying to emulate is the unfortunate reality of life. Shit happens.
If you're deriving a sense of happiness or security because of how you think things are going to go or how they should go, then you're creating a situation in which you will not be prepared if you're wrong.
To paraphrase one of my favorite quotes from Buddha, "The bigger the gap is between our expectation and the reality, the more we will suffer."