Expectation

"Hope for the Best. Expect the worst. Life is a play. We're unrehearsed."
-- Mel Brooks

I've come to realize that one could read all the great quotes in the world but hardly gain any insight on life, but all it takes is for one to find her/himself in a particular situation and the most common quote can become a source of immeasurable wisdom.

As all my friends are aware (to the point of annoyance for some), I have become a firm believer that your perception of life and everything in it relies on what you expect of it. It's a simple thought, but it seems that people constantly ignore this reasoning and continue to be the victims of disappointment and distress. The beauty of this way of thinking is not just so that you can avoid the great misfortunes of life, but also so that your day to day life can be made more enjoyable. A trivial yet model example is when you go out to the movies. Regardless of how poorly made the movie is, if you expect nothing, the experience will be far greater. And the reverse is just as applicable, hype kills great movies all the time.

Where this philosophy really matters is when dealing with other people. However, just because you expect nothing from someone does not mean you treat them like nothing. It's vital to always "hope for the best". This way, you treat them well and any sign of intelligence that they display will always be a pleasant surprise for you. The benefits are endless...you are never disappointed, only pleased, you are always prepared for the worst, and you never gossip since you are never surprisingly appalled by anything (something I need to work on).

So the next time you are going to a movie based on something mindless and trivial, like a Hasbro toy or a violent video game, or a sequel of a highly anticipated movie, let go of all expectations (verbal self-acknowledgment - even if it sounds like a lie - helps) and regardless of what the critics have to say, the 9 bucks will be well worth it.