You are surprised when something unexpected happens.

For something to be unexpected – there must first be expectation, yes?

Therefore – your surprise betrays your expectations.

 

One invariably makes predictions.

One tests those predictions against the data.

One feels surprised upon models and results conflicting.

The feeling perhaps facilitates the learning, facilitates curiosity.

 

One predicts outside events. Makes models, verifies, then expects them to work.

One also predicts his own self. Predicts his path, his goals, achievements, actions, what not.

 

Your expectations of you are futile and conditioned.

You’d like to know yourself like you know your craft – but not really.

It’s very difficult to know oneself for there is so much one wants oneself to be.

What you expect yourself to be is what you *want* to be.

 

Your surprise with yourself being different then expected betrays your unrealistic expectations.

Do you feel surprised upon something happening to you? Things going differently then anticipated?

You are projecting what you *WANT to be* onto yourself.

 

The choice is between what you are and what you want. Between reality and fantasy.

Between acceptance and escapism.

You are surprised for you failed to escape.

 

You are not so surprised when you don’t have so many expectations.

Please be surprised with your craft and your art. It’s a great thing.

Don’t be surprised when you’re not what you wanted to be – because you can only ever be what you are.

 

There is no escaping the elementary reality of being human. No more no less. No larger. Never large enough. Never large enough to be permanent.

 

Learn from your surprises as they reveal your expectations. Expectations you want to make – and expectations you want to be free from.