Expectations

My computer's gone cranky. I thought it just wanted a cleaning. But apparently that's not the case. Right now my CPU is lying flat on its side with its other side open taking half my table space. I thought it was a problem with the SMPS, so got a new one. That's not the case either. It's definitely got something to do with the power supply. That is what I am suspecting. I just hope nothing is wrong with the motherboard. Because that would mean a replacement and if I start replacing parts of it I'll end up upgrading to a new system, which currently is not something I am looking forward to.

During my college years, I had this calendar with witty sayings and cartoons illustrating them. One of them was, "Expect the worse and you'll always be pleasantly surprised". I tried that for a while, didn't work for me. I think it brings in negativity. You expect things not to happen and sometimes it ends up not happening. I think it plays opposite to the "always-think-positive" attitude. As it is, it's a bloody difficult job trying to keep the attitude, specially when you can't control things that depends on someone else. So that is where hope kicks in. You hope that things happen. But you can't expect negative things, cause then you can't hope for the best. I do not understand the concept of "Expect the worst and hope for the best". How? How can you hope when you expect the exact opposite to happen?

I think not expecting is a better option. It sounds as if you are being indifferent to the whole thing, but I think it is better than expecting things to happen and then feel bad about it if it doesn't. Or not expecting things and then feeling worse, thinking "I knew it wouldn't happen!". That's like reaffirming your negativity. Keeping it at the zero-level gives it a hope of moving into the positive quadrants and yet minimizes the effect of the negative quadrants. I am trying to attain that level of thought. Not an easy job. I remember, as a student, my Dad thought that I would get into the IITs. I didn't. Never felt the push of wanting to get in. Gave all the exams though. Then after graduation, Dad wanted me to do a MBA. Disappointed him in that too. My mom once told me, "Your Dad has a lot of expectations from you, do you plan to ruin them all?" I asked her, "Why does he expect things from me which do not align to what I want in my life?" Never really understood my Dad's point of view. I guess you tend to expect things from people you love, it's natural I guess. Funny thing is you get angry on them if it is not fulfilled.

If I define a "Expecter" (the one who is expecting) and an "Expectee" (from whom it is expected), then the situation sort of boils down to the following.

The Expecter expects from the Expectee because he loves him and finds it but obvious that the Expectee would do as wanted by the former. But then thats not what the latter has in his scheme of things, which obviously screws the whole situation. Now, repeated occurrence of this either leads to a rift between the two or the Expecter just stops expecting, reaches the zero level. Mostly as a defense mechanism and avoiding unnecessary disappointments. Worst is when there is a rift between the two and then the "no-expectation" happens. I think its better to get to the state right at the beginning. Avoids a lot of problems. :)