“The desire to not meet expectations may be the only expectation we silently cherish ”
— Alain de Botton
Simplified Meaning:
Sometimes, we might secretly wish not to live up to what others expect of us. This could be because meeting those expectations feels hard, stressful, or limiting. For example, imagine a student whose parents always push them to get perfect grades. While they work hard, deep down, they might long for a break from this pressure and wish they didn't have to meet these high standards all the time. This hidden desire to not always meet expectations can be our way of wanting freedom, to just be ourselves without the constant pressure. By acknowledging this feeling, we can start understanding what we truly want and balance expectations with our own happiness. Instead of pushing ourselves to always meet others' expectations, we might choose to follow our own path that feels right for us.
