THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATIONS.
Which expectations have I accepted without considering whether they reflect my own values.
REFLECTION
How much of the life you're living is shaped by what you actually want, and how much of it has been influenced by what other people expect of you?
From the time we're young, we're surrounded by ideas about who we should become, what success should look like, and how we're supposed to behave. Our families, friends, communities, and cultures all play a role in shaping these expectations. Some provide us with valuable guidance. Others become so familiar that we accept them without giving much thought to whether they reflect what matters to us.
Maybe you pursued a particular career because it seemed like the sensible choice. Perhaps you've continued a family tradition you never particularly enjoyed, or found yourself agreeing to responsibilities because you've always been the person everyone depends on.
It's not always easy to recognize the difference between something we've chosen and something we've simply grown accustomed to doing.
And reconsidering an expectation doesn't necessarily mean rejecting the people or experiences that influenced us. Sometimes it just means giving ourselves permission to ask whether the things we've been working toward are still the things we want.
Today, consider which expectations you've made your own, and which ones you might be ready to reconsider.
WRITE
Think about an expectation you've carried for much of your life.
Where did it come from? Was it something you chose, or something you gradually came to accept?
Write a few sentences about whether that expectation still reflects what matters to you today.
CREATE
Gather a piece of paper and whatever drawing, painting, or collage materials you have available.
Begin by drawing a few lines or shapes that create boundaries across the page.
Now introduce colors, marks, or textures that move beyond those boundaries. Allow some to remain inside the original shapes and others to extend into new areas.
Notice what happens to the composition when you begin changing the rules you established at the beginning.
LISTEN
Choose a song that reminds you of a time when you felt free to make your own decisions, or one that encourages you to think differently about what others expect.
As you listen, consider the choices you've made throughout your life.
Which ones felt entirely your own? Were there times when you followed a different path because it mattered to you?
Notice what comes to mind without feeling the need to evaluate your decisions as right or wrong.
SHARE
If you'd like, share your artwork, writing, song selection, or something you considered during today's meditation.
What's one expectation you've carried that you're beginning to question, and what might you choose for yourself instead?
There is no expectation to share personal experiences. Participate in whatever way feels meaningful to you.
