Failed Expectation

Should not Breed Disappointment

By Apolinario Villalobos

We should not expect so much if we do not want to get disappointment when we thought we have “failed” in our endeavour. If ever, we should always be prepared with even a bit of consolation to cushion the impact of emotional and psychological ache that may ensue. And, from there, we should pick up the pieces and move on.

We should accept the fact that we may not live up to our expectations in all the things that we do because of limitations, some of which we may not be aware of. It takes a stumble or more along the way for us to know that we have such limitations or handicap. And, such realizations should be treated as lessons to be learned. They should not put us down.

There are some people who thought that earlier along the way of their struggle,  they have “failed” because they use the accomplishment of others as their gauge. We should never do that, because each one of us has a distinct capability, much different from others. Most often, too, later on, when we have succeeded in what we are doing, we think that we are “late bloomers”, which is wrong again. As we live, we strive. The corridor of life that we tread is full of challenges. If we stumble in one, it should be perceived as a lesson for improvement.

I know of a guy, who during his school days – from elementary up to college, he was perceived as just an average achiever. He got contented with a BS Commerce course that he finished with not so satisfactory grades. Later when he sought for jobs, he would pass screenings with a breeze that transferring from one job to better ones was easy for him. In so short a time, he became a senior manager in a big multi-national company. When time came for him to have an assistant with engineering skill, a supervisor from their affiliate company was seconded to him. On the day of their meeting, he found out that the guy assigned to assist him was their valedictorian in high school!