Expectations and Outcomes  

Welcome to the first edition of Satellite!

The mind has always fascinated me.   We spend our childhood learning to read, do math,   history and science, and if we're lucky, learn a foreign language.   Our studies become more advanced in our teens and then specialized at university.   Academic learning.

But it's the other part of the mind that intrigues me - the part that records our life experiences.   The brain remembers everything we go through and then reacts to a given situation based on what it knows.   I like the image of the brain storing the information in a filing cabinet and retrieving it as needed.

When confronted with the same situation or one similar, the brain recalls what happened last time and sends us a message relating the previous experience.   An expectation is created.   We feel we know what the outcome will be.   Most of the time this serves us well - like learning that we'll burn our hand if we touch a hot stove.  

But sometimes it doesn't.

After moving back to the United States, I was surprised at the number of solicitors who came to our door.   It got to the point where I ignored the doorbell.   My expectation became - when the doorbell rings, someone will ask me for money.

Then one day a young man came selling magazine subscriptions. I was ready to brush him off - but for some reason didn't.   He told me that he was studying to be a carpenter at the local technical school and this was helping to finance his tuition.   He was also using it as an opportunity to talk to people about their jobs.   He then asked, "What do you like about your job?" This put me at a loss for words - a simple question with so much wisdom. This young man had already identified a key aspect of working - do what you like to do.   We had a remarkable conversation.

After buying a subscription, we shook hands and he thanked me for taking time to speak to him - he said he knew he was on the right path.   

I was so glad I answered the door that day.   Even though my first expectation was right that there was someone at the door wanting me to buy something - I learned that I shouldn't always let my expectations determine my actions.   By doing so I will allow myself to have new experiences.

Where can you shift your thinking, remain open to the outcome and have a completely different experience?