My dear friends, we love you so very much,

You live in a world of unspoken agreements and implicit expectations. You live in a world where many feel that if they do "x" someone owes them "y." A parent raises a child and expects that child to take care of them in later years. A woman or man is a dutiful daughter or son and expects their parent's blessing when they finally make their own choices. A partner sacrifices his or her own dreams for the other, expecting to be loved and supported in return. Perhaps. alternately a partner supports the other financially and expects to be loved for being the provider. 

While these are certainly reasonable requests, they become troublesome when they are left as unspoken expectations. If you do something with an expectation of having someone else do something or behave a certain way in return, then you have, in effect, stopped treating the other person as a soul, and started treating them as an "object" – a thing that must behave in a certain manner. Inevitably, this leads to disappointment, bitterness, upset and even hatred in extreme cases.

In reality dear ones you are all learning, growing, and trying to assist one another towards greater understandings of love.

Rather than harboring unspoken agreements, make explicit requests. "I will babysit your kids every week if you can be available when I occasionally need some help." "I don't mind providing for you but I do need some sympathy and understanding that I work long hours in return." "I will take care of you. I only ask that you treat me kindly." And to your kids. "I love you. I expect you to behave in a certain way. If you don't here is what will happen."

Decide what you will do if the requests are not met. Will you make the request of someone else? Will you let it go, realizing it is not so important? Will you walk away and move towards greener pastures and kinder souls? Will you simply outline the consequence of certain choices.

If the friend you have helped on a daily basis will not help you, you can choose to ask someone else to assist. You can walk away from the friendship, realizing it has been one-side all along. You can simply modify your plans. Only you will know what is true for you. If you children behave in ways that you don't like, again you have choice. You can drop into your heart and tell them how you feel. You can disown them. Again only you can choose what is honestly in your heart.

This way of living requires great personal responsibility. It requires you to be clear about what you want, courageous enough to express it, and faithful enough to know that if someone can't meet your requests that the entire universe is there waiting to assist with other alternatives. It is much more work to take responsibility in this way than to simply expect others to conform to your wishes and get upset when they don't.

However, dear ones, if you want to be free, we encourage you to release yourself and others from the bondage of expectations. Engage instead in real, honest, and authentic dialog in which you make explicit requests. Allow yourself to be who you are and want what you want. Allow others to be who they are. In this fashion you will easily see who honestly fits your life, and who doe not.

God Bless You! We love you so very much. 

-- The Angels

Hi Everyone,

I have seen the ill effects of unexpressed expectations in my office and my life time and again. 

Years ago, in my late twenties, a man I worked with confessed his love for me and insisted I was meant to be with him. I was kind and gently told him I thought he was a wonderful person but that I did not feel the same way. I told him that I saw someone else coming into his life soon whom he'd love dearly.

In spite of my kindness, he became viscous and attacked me with horrible scathing words. He had expected me to fall into his arms and when life didn't match expectation, he became hateful. As always God knew best. He met the love of his life soon after and decades later, they are still married.

I've been on the other side of the expectation dance as well. My own expectations of others in my earlier years led to a lot of disappointments. In the past, although I didn't realize it at the time, I "gave to get." I'll never forget the day I was busted on that one! A psychic, who was actually a friend of a guy I was dating said to me, "So is it going to work?" She and I both knew darn well it wasn't the right relationship for me. "I don't know I answered, fibbing." 

She looked at me, shook her head and with great compassion and a huge southern accent said, "Mm mm, poor little thing. Always giving in the hopes you gonna get some back." It hurt, but it was truth. I had the expectation that if I just loved enough, gave enough, then this man would be kind to me. Needless to say the relationship didn't work out. I learned a lot however! After it ended, I wrote the "Ten commandments of Ann" about how I was going to ask to be treated in the future and the choices I'd make if I were not.

'm sure you have had similar experiences. I'm sure you've had times when people's expectations of you lead them to guilt trip you, tell you how disappointed they are in you, blame you for their sad or upset feelings, etc. Most likely you have expectations of others that have led to upsets when un-met. 

So how do we get off the expectation / disappointment cycle? Here are a few tips to help you with that this week:

1. Notice where you have expectations or unspoken agreements

• Are you giving to others & expecting them to give back?
• Have you lent money, without agreeing when & how you'll be paid
• Are you in business without clearly spelling out responsibilities?
• Do you expect your kids / spouse / friends to act a certain way?
• Are you expecting someone you're dating to act a certain way?

A good way to identify unspoke agreements is to notice where you're upset at someone. Did you expect them to behave a certain way? Do they know that? How? 

2. Once you've identified your expectations ask yourself a few questions

• Have I made my expectations clear to anyone who is violating them?
• How can I communicate them kindly?
• What will I do if they don't honor my request?

While there is no absolute right and wrong here, you have to decide what you will and won't live with and what the consequences are if people behave otherwise. 

For example, if you're a giver and expect others to give back, to appreciate you, or to love you for giving, what are you going to say or do, without making themselves or yourself wrong, if they do not? 

This step often requires introspection, prayer and sometimes the loving advice of someone you trust. 

3. Be honest, Communicate lovingly and kindly.

Once you know how you want to be treated, tell the people around you who are not treating you this way, and share with them what you will do if they can't agree to it.

For example I have said to people, "I deserve to be treated with kindness and you're very upset now, so we'll talk later." Or, "You haven't treated me with kindness and courtesy so I won't be in contact again." Its not easy. Better to treat yourself honestly and well, than to remain bitter or upset at another.

4. If someone has expectations of you that you cannot meet, don't let guilt, shame, or their upset prevent you from listening to your own heart and honoring your own guidance.

"I am sorry I can't help you out today. You've helped me so many times. MIght I do it later?" or "I'm sorry, I can't help you today." If another person gets mad because they expected you to act a certain way and you cannot do so in integrity with your own spirit, then their upset is their issue. 

5. Remember - God did not create you to please others – only to be yourself.

The angels say often, "A rose does not exist to please anyone. It blooms because that is its nature. It is equally beautiful and fragrant whether or not anyone sees or acknowledges it essence. It asks nothing of you."

So too, we must bloom and follow our God given guidance, no matter who understands, like or doesn't like us, and in spite of the fact that some will attack. And we must give other this courtesy, allowing them to be who they choose to be and simply deciding whether or not they belong in our lives

Be gentle with yourself as you explore this topic. Most of us harbor unspoken expectations, and most of us have been on the unpleasant receiving end of them. Yet when we realize that everyone, including ourselves, has a right to be whomever they choose to be, so much energy is released.

When we free ourselves from the burden of others expectations, and when we free others from the burden of own, finally our relationships become honest, authentic, and loving. We naturally stay around those behaviors and people with whom there is a natural fit, and we gently move away from those behaviors and people with whom there is not.

Love you all! 
Ann