Expectations Matter

I'm amazed at how much expectations can dictate an experience. 

What stuck out as a new realization to me today was the differences when those expectations are positive or negative.

If, for instance, I go into a movie with high expectations (this happened Friday night with Sherlock Holmes 2), then they are rarely met.  Sometimes that leaves me frustrated, other times that just leaves me bland (Friday was the bland kind).

On the otherhand, going to a movie without expectations would generally provide a positive response.

What fascinates me is what happens in areas of life when we expect little, or even when we expect to be disappointed.  I often find, that at these times, our expectations become true.  We find the faults, the frustrations, the things we wished were different and we dwell on them.  Negative expectations are often realized.

I wonder if there are areas of life that it would be better for me to just stop having expectations for.  To allow life just to be experienced, instead of always analyzed.  To find emotions when they come, not when and where I look for them.

Maybe then I'll have a more positive experience, but then again, as a pessimist, I suppose that wouldn't be much like me!