Do you have high expectation in any aspect of your life?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24650)
Singapore
July 19, 2009 9:18am CST
Most children and young people have very high expectations in all aspects of their lives. They want to be rich, famous, intelligent, handsome (or beautiful), live in big houses, with a few beautiful childen, healthy, and live until ripe old age.
Most of the unrealistically high expectations vaporize as they enter society. They begin to see the world as it is, and begin to have more realistic expectation.
For most people, after surviving a few recessions, their only expectation in life is to have enough money to keep the house, the car, and deal with periods of unemployment.
Do you have high expectation in any aspect of your life?
4 people like this
23 responses
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
20 Jul 09
I excel in sales when I was younger, It was so easy for me to recruit sales people, train and supervise them, together we earn nice income. In this quite old age still I have high expectation of bringing back the old days and make higher earnings and still believe can still make some dreams come true.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Bing, you sound more like an eighty year old woman talking when you say "in this quite old age". I think half a century years old shouldn't consider as "old", just middle age, in case you do live till 120 years old.
In the history of China, there's one very interesting guy, he's unlucky throughout his life, and nobody values his talent, until he's 80 years old, when the king got to know him, and appointed him as the Prime Minister. Later on this guy helped the younger king to found a dynasty, Zhou Dynasty. His name is Jiang Ziya, the founder Prime Minister of Zhou, a dynasty that lasted for 800 years.
I think you are still very young, compared to him, let's talk about what you can do after the age of 80.
@tipay26 (867)
• Philippines
20 Jul 09
Hi, I don't really have this expectations in life.What I mean is that to avoid frustration and depression, I have come up with a great solution of not thinking about the future of my life rather focus on what is happening right now and have them going inside of me.The future is uncertain in my own opinion what matters to me most is the present.We have to make our present life a little too less stressful so that we can live till the future.Problems, trials, are always there in our lives.If we are strucked,then it's time that we accept it and learn from it and avoid it in the future.Those material things that we aspire to have grown and multiply in the future will never ever compensate us no matter what we do and no matter how hard we work for them.Think of it this way,they can get stolen,burned,and they can get lost and all our efforts when those happened goes down the drain.I think to be able to cope up with life in the present,we should learn how to live our lives in a simpler way,god fearing and contented way.Take life as it is.If you fall, there is no other way but to get up and get going.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Tipay, you are rather unusual, most of us think of the future, and plan for the future, especially in a recession when most news are bad news, we look forward to a better tomorrow.
Actually most young people think of the future, and dream of the time when they can retire young, retire rich.
I always have the future in mind when make day to day decision. Sometimes I want to order soft drinks, then I will think about future, since I want to live a healthy and long life, so I rather forgo the soft drinks, and order herbal tea or healthier beverage instead.
@tipay26 (867)
• Philippines
20 Jul 09
thank you for taking the time in reading my comment i appreciate that.but it doesn't mean that i don't think best for my future.what i am trying to say is that your future depends on what your present is and i really don't think hard on that for reasons that for me the present is more important than the future because this is me now and who knows what i'll be in the future.life is a cycle we can't control or tell life what to do or not to do.for me i guess that's the best thing to do if you wanna live up till the future.We can't do something about the global recession all we have left is our survival in times like these.again,this views is based on my own opinions.=)
1 person likes this
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
20 Jul 09
not anymore. i used to but as life goes on i see how hard life can be and how most of it is about surviving day to day and trying to keep your head above water. i think that people who have money and do not have to worry about money have a completely different way of life and they actually get to enjoy but those of us who don't struggle and miss out on alot. i am a realist and i know that i try my best everyday but things are hard much of the time and so my high expectations no longer exist.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Mikeysmom, that's what I have observed. When I was working as a Recruiter for my ex-company, I noticed that many young people were very upbeat, and having very high expectations. When I asked them about their career goal, they were able to aim very high, such as "I want to lead", "I want to be manager".
But for most people in their midst 40s and above, they just aimed to get monthly salary, and did a good job.
I think the harsh reality of life does mellow our expectations, and make us look at things realistically. Most older people aim to live a blameless and ordinary life.
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
20 Jul 09
Expectation could also be accumulating talents, contributing wisdom and if lucky, along with material fortunes, but if not, still able to stay plain and happy.
As you put it, after recession, what remain most appreciated is likely health, safety of family, and love of children.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Zhuhuifen, you bring up a very good point, the expectations that people have depends on economic situation.
My observation so far is that the younger people, especially those tertiary students, have very high expectations. But when they work for a few years, and undergo a few recessions, their expectations change to more realistic and moderate level. Sometimes expectation changes with age, in fact most of the times, expectation becomes lower as people get older.
@joxxxter (38)
• Latvia
19 Jul 09
Well I used to dream that I could be a stand-up comic, vet, pro dancer, snake, eagle, magician, doctor and many other things that I now think I don`t need (or I could not become for some obvious reasons), I now aim to become a car salesman in my own little car shop :) would be cool huh? :)
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
19 Jul 09
Hi Joxxxter, that is still a very worthy goal. Not many people dare to dream of having their own shops, once they started working for a couple of years.
Sometimes I think society has a way to suck all the high expectations and dreams of youngsters out, and make them into unhappy and stressful employees.
I think you still can be magician or even Santa Claus if you want to, for the sake of having fun.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
20 Jul 09
The only expectation that i want now is to someday the front can be turned as a commercial space rent so that i could earn money with out leaving my mom. and also have a my own big room with a wash room and bath tub. also want a job and stay there forever.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Letranknight, I'm sure some of your expectations will realize. After all, these are very moderate and achievable goals in life.
Maybe something better will come, and you are able to renovate your existing house into a comfortable big house.
I hope your mother and you aim for a healthier lifestyle, and live till ripe old age without sickness.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
19 Jul 09
I have a high expectation for the traveling that is my top hobby. I have been to 52 different countries so far in my lifetime. I began traveling when I was 14 years old with a trip to Greece. When I was 20 years old I was able to travel around the world. I have ways of affording to travel like saving, working overseas and choosing to visit cheaper destinations when I am at my poorest. I also have high expectations of my education. I am a primary school teacher that loves education. I still do courses even though I have done all my professional qualifications. Learning is delightful fun. I hope that my children will do well in their education.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Maximax, that's great! I love to travel, even though I do not aim to travel to so many different countries.
I wonder why you become a school teacher instead of air stewardess, since you love to travel so much.
Many young gals here dream of working for SIA as air stewardess, the image of Singapore Girl is imprinted in their young minds. Most of the air stewardess love to travel, but most of them can't last for more than three years.
@meiyeec511 (405)
• Malaysia
20 Jul 09
When I was young and was studying, I do not even know about this world. I imagined I own pretty car, big house...
Now I have worked for about 4 years. Since I have started working, I can feel the different in the dream and realistic. I wish the teenagers nowadays will be alerted of this.
The kids nowadays too easy in their life, do not even know what is the difficulties, in that case, they become so materialistic.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Meiyeec, there is no need to worry about the younger generations.
No matter how materialistic and impractical they are when they are young and carefree, the moment they step into society, and experienced the first recession, or face the first retrenchment, they will know the value of money, and the value of hard work. At least they are behaving their age, and have carefree teenage lives.
As we grow older, we start to learn that owning big car, and big house become a liability, not an asset. All the monthly bills and maintenance cost can make us depressing.
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
20 Jul 09
Yes, I admit I also am one of the people who have high expectations of life. I especially have high expectations of the life I want to live. This life includes an enjoyable and luxurious one. I want to have a beautiful home that is not too large but not too small either. I want o have lots of money mainly to fund my love of traveling. I want to be able to travel the world in a luxurious manner, like staying in nice hotels and eating in gourmet restaurants. I also want a high-paying job that enables me to manage my own time and not be stressful. I know all of these are too good to be true but still, having expectations enable one to have a goal in life.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Zzyw, I like the way you write about your high expectations, you are very clear about what you want out of life.
Even if only half your expectations come true, that will still be a very successful life. I like to travel, and I dream of having my own apartment, but not really in luxurious manner.
The only thing I have high expectation is my health. I want to be healthy, able to live independently even at the age of 100. There are some people who can't walk by the age of 50, and there are some who can take care of others even at the age of 110. I prefer to be the latter, that's why I'm taking very good care of myself.
@colydf (913)
• China
19 Jul 09
For me, I want to be happy every day. This sounds quite easy and simple, however, this is quite hard to reach. I do not need to have a lot of money, I do not need to look the most beautiful, I do not need to be the most intelligent one, I only want to live a happy life every day.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Colydf, that's the greatest expectation anyone can aim for.
It's terribly hard to define happiness, and to keep ourselves happy every day. By the way, what is your secret to live happily every day?
Somehow, making money is easier than to aim for happiness every day. After all, we can measure money, but we cannot measure happiness, we can only feel happy or sad as events happen.
@maharlikah (1045)
• Philippines
20 Jul 09
Nothing more I wish in in life except good health. It is the most important thing for me. Fame, wealth, beauty, big house are useless if a person is unhealthy. But of of course we still need those but health must be on top.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Maharlikah, same here, I aim for good health. Since I have taken good care of my body, having enough exercise, and eating good food, I expect a healthy body.
In fact, that is the hardest and highest expectation we can have in life. It's very difficult to enjoy healthy living in a polluted environment, plus all the chemicals in processed food.
@dex1007 (556)
• Malaysia
20 Jul 09
I do. i have high expectation from my future life mate. he will be everything i find attractive in men. i have it all planed out. haha. i also expect a high paying glamorous job in a magazine. a beautiful home. and an exciting life.
It is good to expect, and hope for a better life. you will strive to achieve it if you want it bad enough. I feel bad for those who don't settle for what they get. they don't have ambitions. those people will not go too far in life.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
haha dex1007, you are funny, you not only have high expectation for yourself, you have high expectation for the future mate.
I think only a prince will meet your stringent requirement.
It's great to have high expectations, and to aim high in life. After all, even if you fall short, you still achieve much more than those who do not dare to dream. I hope you have the working plan write out somewhere. Having high expectations is not much use without a concrete working plan, such as educational path, money management plan etc.
I have no doubt that most of our expectations will come true.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
19 Jul 09
Oh yes I do. I am 45yrs and I am going back to college. I will be working an a degree. For me that is a high expection in my life. I guess everyone has something that they work towards, but the real question is will they reach it or finish what they started. I will agree with you that the times do change alot of peoples expectations, but why let that stop you. Just keep reaching and with your wilpower it can happen.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Rosepedal, that's great. I studied for my degree as a working adult, attended the night class. Some of my classmates are older than you, a few are retirees who wanted to achieve their life long dream of getting a degree.
Actually, it's much easier to study when we are older, because we have working experience to support our arguments, and we tend not to agree with everything written in the textbook.
I'm sure you will enjoy your study!
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Rlaknar, you do have a very kind and good heart.
Not many people aim to open a charity and spend time or money doing charity works to help others. They may donate some money or spend a few days a year, but they will not think of doing it full time.
I hope your dream will come true, that will bring great happiness to you. It seems you have the whole lifetime planned out.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Jul 09
At 55, I'm past all the high expectations and would be satisfied if I could just keep my house and stay independent. I bought a house below my means at the time, ignored the realtors who encouraged me to get a bigger and more expensive house and I'm so glad I did. I love this house! I hope I can keep it. It won't be the end of the world if I lose it but I'll be sad.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
19 Jul 09
Hi Dragon54u, 55 is still a young age, way below the national average longevity for women.
Many people have high expectation where lifespan and health are concerned, including me. I want to be able to live an independent life even at the age of 100. I think by taking care of my body better, I can achieve it.
I'm sure you can keep your house, if the recession continues for another few more years, the banks will give up on foreclosures, and the government will give out money. If the recession bottoms out, there will be more jobs available, and there wont be anymore sad news of foreclosure.
@countless (75)
• India
19 Jul 09
I have had very high expectations as regards to my career, studies, ethics, etc. But, honestly speaking, these high expectations are sometimes too taxing. These high expectations make me achieve much less than a normal expectatation would( Sounds paradoxical!).
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
19 Jul 09
haha Countless, I think you forget to backup the high expectations with a concrete action plan. If high expectation has a high cost in term of time and effort, it may be better to set the expectation lower, so that the action plan does not consume too much time and effort.
Sometimes the problem is in the implementation of the plan, not with the high expectations.
In working life, we always have to produce a timeline to finish certain tasks. Even then, we may not meet deadlines. Sometimes a few colleagues down with the flu can push back the plan for a few days. Well, unexpected happenings is part of life!
@abanerji (1026)
• India
19 Jul 09
well, i have some expectations from myself. i don't wish to be very rich and famous but i wish to achieve proper success in in my field. even my parents have some expectations from me, i wish to to fulfilt hem too. i don' know how far i would succeed but i would give my best to achieve these goals.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
19 Jul 09
Hi Abanerji, that is great! I'm sure you will succeed in anything you want to do, since the love for your parents is motivating you to achieve success.
it is very sad that some parents have very high expectations for their children, without thinking about what the children really want.
Whatever it is, we have to be happy with our expectation, and achievement in life.
@akuler (3531)
• Malaysia
19 Jul 09
Hi scheng1,
Everybody have an expectation and most if not all is very high expectations. Before I finish my study, I always think that I can easily get my dream job with my degree. I will get everything I need and live my life happily ever after.
But once I got my degree (during 1998 recession), I found a totally strange world then I expected before. I try to adjust but found it very hard. And until now I keep adjusting it and be more realistic base on current situation.
Happy mylotting and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Jul 09
Hi Akuler, I think most people share the same sentiment as you.
Most people have great expectations when they are younger, but once they start working, the expectations tend to mellow to more realistic expectation, such as a fully paid for house and car, stable job, early retirement etc.
Most older folks, especially those in their seventies and eighties, hardly have any expectation for themselves, even though they have high expectation for the grandchildren.
@flyisky (196)
• China
19 Jul 09
Well, everyone has his or her own expectation more or less. Just call expectation as a little dream, I think my highest expectation is the career in the near future. Although I`m still striving for my doctor`s degree, I begin to think about what and how can I do in the future after entering the society. The reality is cruel, we must admit the fact and plan a good way for my own career. Becoming a scientist, a doctor, a employee in a big company or starting a brand new company by myself. Just a choice, I wanna make a difference and suceed in the career. lol
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
19 Jul 09
Hi Flyisky, which branch of medicine are you specializing? I hope you can be a good doctor. At least you have a very clear immediate goal in mind. And the demand for doctors is forever there. Doctors and nurses are two professions which are recession proof.
Many doctors in public hospitals are over-worked, and that kills their zeal for being a doctor. They treat patients as necessary evils to get rid of as soon as possible. Some young doctors even look more sickly than the patients. I hope the public hospitals can be reasonable, and not make them work 36 hours continually.
@whateva (786)
• India
19 Jul 09
yeah people say i have high expectations out of my life
you know what are they?
ok i'll tell you the list goes on like happiness and life ...am sorry is the list too long
but people say my expectations are really high ..
and that is what they suck at
and that is what this life suck at
cous expectations will neva lead us anywhere..
but towards some fake hopes
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
19 Jul 09
Hi Whateva, I dont think your expectation is unreasonable, even though I agree that it is high expectation.
Everyone aims to be happy in life, even though there is no such thing as permanent happiness or perfection in life.
I aim to have a healthy body, and live to a hundred years old independently. That is a very high expectation, but I take care of my body, so I expect my body not to give me problems.
