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Don't Expect Too Much
Just a side note. I did not write this wonderful, wonderful piece. My brother did. I just thought I'd share this on here. It might enlighten some and prove to be a good read.
DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH.
If people are sad, unhappy and unfulfilled, it is because they seem unable to draw satisfaction from their lives. So many of us succumb to the temptation of wishing that we were something or someone that we are not.
We hear melodious sounds of a well–known singer, and we envy him for his voice. We think that if we could only produce sounds such as these, then we would gain great happiness and deep satisfaction.
Then, we hear a great public speaker. We dream and fantasize how fulfilled we would be if only we had the ability to communicate our ideas the way he does.
We meet a learned man and think that if only we had the vast store of knowledge that is in his head, we would indeed gain great happiness.
And if only we would shoot baskets like Kobe Bryant, we would gain acceptance and popularity which would surely afford us more joy in life.
People who have unrealistic expectations about themselves can never be happy. They can never be happy because they adhere to the illogical idea that one should be thoroughly competent, adequate, intelligent, and achieving in all possible aspects. Thinking in this manner is unreal. It will inevitably lead to failure and frustration.
You cannot be a star in everything you do. It is impossible to be number one all the time. Even the greatest basketball team has points scored against it. Manny Pacquiao gets hit on the nose many times during his fights and even victorious armies lose battles.
Why is it that people want to be on top in everything they do? Is it an inner drive for excellence? I am not sure. Perhaps it is envy and excessive pride. A young man once told me he would never rest until he was first in all his undertakings. I replied that he would remain restless, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled all his life.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that one should be satisfied with mediocrity. Surely the striving for excellence should always be foremost in a person’s mind. But that is not my point.
Of course, a person should always do his|her very best in everything that he|she attempts in life. However, he|she cannot possibly expect to be a winner all the time. His|her realistic outlook on life has taught him|her that even those who give their very best come out second, third, and perhaps even last. He sees life a little bit like Olympic Games. The glory lies not so much in winning but in participating and giving the best that one has to offer. That is the heart of the matter.
This, however, presupposes that one sees him|herself as an imperfect creature who is limited by a number of specific weaknesses. In order to do this, one must possess a healthy amount of humility as well as insight. It is not easy to admit that one cannot draw a straight line or sing two consecutive notes or speak very well in public. We all know how difficult it is to admit that one is not always a winner. We realize how hard it is to acknowledge the superiority of one’s peers. It is easy for a winner to congratulate a loser. It is more difficult for the loser to sincerely recognize the fact that he is second best.
Yet, unless we learn to do this graciously and sincerely, we will never gain peace of mind. We will forever be indulging in useless fantasy and destructive daydreams. If, on the other hand, somehow, someday, we learn to see ourselves as we are, then we will recognize our rightful place among our peers. This will go a long way in helping us to appreciate ourselves the way God meant it to be.
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Comment by ▬Boy Bastos▬ on February 21, 2012 at 6:16pm -
...the line is within the blood...: ) i miss ur stories...: ) thanks for sharing..: )
p.s. m hoping MANNY PACQUIAO read this piece, A BOXER, POLITICIAN, A SINGER AND ACTOR! sana naman wag ng balakin pang maging presidente! dios ko po!
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Comment by DropDeadDiva on February 21, 2012 at 8:40pm -
Boy! I miss you! We haven't chatted for ages. I'm glad to know you liked what my brother wrote. This was a reflection he prepared for mass yesterday. So yes, my brother is a priest. :)
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Comment by Candace Lopez on February 21, 2012 at 9:38pm -
Uplifting :-)
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Comment by Gemino Cui on February 21, 2012 at 11:10pm -
i suggest you see a priest at dun sa kanya mangumpisal. this is just a sad excuse to tell people how massively insecure you are (not you personally, the writer). this not uplifting at all. someone depressed might read this and commit suicide lol
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Comment by mon lorenzo on February 21, 2012 at 11:51pm -
Very good insights and inputs. Very well written ,too.
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Comment by DropDeadDiva on February 22, 2012 at 7:06am
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@Mon and Candace: Thank you for the positive comments. Greatly appreciated. :)
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Comment by DropDeadDiva on February 22, 2012 at 7:20am
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Gemino, dude, I have been debating with myself as to whether or not I reply to your comment or I just let it slide. Obviously, I chose the former.
The writer is my brother so please just stop with the negativity.
How can something as "uplifting" and as positive as this be viewed by you differently? Are you sure you don't have a brain disease that's slowly eating your common sense? Were you brought up by heartless people that somehow affected your ability to feel?
You are bitter and you are vile.
If you have nothing positive to say on this matter, then please do not say anything at all.
I don't get pissed off easily. I pride myself for being level headed but what you said was too much.
So take your negativity with you and stay away from my blogs.
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Comment by Asherisk on February 22, 2012 at 2:50pm -
nicely written bud. parang iba ang style na ginamit mo ngayon. galing.
my 2 cents: people expect because we have the capability to dream. if one man reach contentment in the early stages of his/her life, there is no room to be alive anymore.
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Comment by ♫BAN COMIC SANS♫ on February 22, 2012 at 6:32pm -
When you do something always give your best, whatever it takes..whatever the outcome is.
Because we are in an environment where competition is prevalent, tendencies are we usually
measure our competence with someone else, if not with every one else. Which should not be the case. Our competition is ourselves. We each have our own limitations and weaknesses, that we
each need to primarily overcome. Because despite all our accomplishments, distinctions and accolades, we are the ones who will be measuring our own contentment.
bow! hehehe
They say, ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
So why EXPECT? IF WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING, ARE THE UNEXPECTED.
lol
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Comment by baldo nolastname on February 23, 2012 at 11:41am -
Can someone tell me what the message was in a single sentence? I'm lost.
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