No Expectations – No Disappointments

NO EXPECTATIONS NO DISAPPOINTMENTS

Musings by Vikram Karve

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Are you a result oriented person?

Yes?

Are you obsessed with the “return” you get on your “investments”?

If your answer is yes, then why don’t you try to adopt a philosophical approach to life. 

Here is a saying from Lao-tzu from Tao Te Ching:

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.

Care about other people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.

The only path to serenity.

--Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching, ch. 9

Yes, that is the key - Do your work, then step back.

Or better still, let Chapter 2 Verse 47 of The Bhagavad Gita be your guide:

karmany evadhikarass te maphalesu kadachana ma karma-phala-hetur bur ma te sango stv akarmani 

(Seek to perform your duty; but lay not claim to its fruits. You have a right to perform your prescribed action, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results your activities, but neither should you avoid doing your duty).

So that’s the moral of the story: Always do your best without expecting results and you will be happy.

In today’s materialistic world, when you invest your money you expect a return on your investment (ROI). 

Some persons apply this ROI theory to other domains of their lives as well. 

For example, they feel that if they invest in a relationship, especially marriage, they must get returns (ROI). 

As far as any relationship is concerned, especially marriage, it is best to adopt the following philosophy: No Expectations, No Disappointments, Happy Marriage. 

Apply this philosophy in your career, work life too - Do your job to the best of your ability and then step back and forget about results, rewards etc. - have no expectation, expect no “return” and you will not be disappointed.

So, Dear Reader, forget about Quid Pro Quo. 

Just do what you want to do and step back. 

Do not expect anything in return. 

Just do something for the sake of doing that something – do it because you want to do it, you enjoy doing it, and forget about the results. 

Remember, if you have no expectations you will have no disappointments.

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VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.