Focus on the Unexpected

There is power in the unexpected.

People who have strong focus tend not to appreciate the benefits of the unexpected. We work hard to plan and prepare, to anticipate every eventuality down to the smallest detail. We do not want any surprises.

We are more comfortable when our plans become reality. It reinforces our ability to get things done. It also reinforces our trust in our own expectations.

Our expectations shape how we perceive and experience the world. We tend to see unexpected events as disruptions, opportunities to plan more effectively in the future. We also tend to discount or forget how the unexpected motivates us to change.

Many young children can tell you that surprise is good, something to be celebrated. It is only as we construct our own personal set of expectations that we begin to see the unexpected as an inconvenience.

One of the very valuable benefits of the unexpected is how it changes what we expect to happen next. We become more open, better able to sense the power and wonder of life. Whether we are unexpectedly shown great beauty or depth, or significant loss or challenge, the way we anticipate the future becomes different.

It is the unplanned, unexpected events that have changed my life; the chance meeting, the snap decision, the things I have found while looking for something else.

Over time, unexpected events help us release our dependence on our own plans. As we relax our focus on our own expectations, we become better able to focus on the unexpected all around us. We can appreciate unexpected possibilities rather than inconveniences.

We begin to remember how to celebrate the unexpected.

How tightly are you holding onto your own expectations?

Where has the unexpected changed the way you understand your life today?

[Image by josemanuelerre]