Week 3: The Trap of Expectation

“The greatest obstacle to living is expectation, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in fortune's control, and abandoning what lies in yours.”

(Seneca)

The Essence

Seneca warns against procrastination and thinking about the future. Those who treat today as a waiting period for tomorrow surrender their power to chance. Only what we do now is within our control.

Takeaway

The biggest saboteur of your life is expectation. Use the power of the moment, because it is the only thing you truly possess.

Application in Daily Life

• The “today” filter: When you notice that you are putting something off until tomorrow, interrupt the thought. Ask yourself, “What one small thing can I do right now?”
• The “tomorrow inventory”: In the evening, write down three things you have put off. Realize how little time they would have taken.
• The “happiness check”: Ask yourself, “What am I waiting for to be happy?” Try to appreciate the present, regardless of this future goal.