How Expectations May Be Potential Blocks on the Path to Motherhood
When we’re on the path to motherhood, we typically have expectations. Some of us expect to get pregnant easily, some of us expect to have an easy pregnancy, others of us expect to birth our baby naturally, and many of us expect to feel great right after birth and to love motherhood, to name a few possible expectations.
When you hear the word “expectations,” what comes to mind? Take a moment to write down your response.
What expectations do you have about the fertility journey and motherhood? Again, take a moment to write down your responses. This will help you to see where you might be inadvertently blocking your life from flowing in a more harmonious manner.
For some people, you may feel stressed when you think of “expectations” because of the ones you set for yourself and those that others set for you. Maybe you think of the ones you place on others, such as family members or healthcare professionals.
Perhaps you go a bit deeper and think that expectations are beliefs we don’t know we have until they aren’t met. This can be particularly true in relationships.
Perhaps you’re aware of the following saying that is purported to have originated in 12-step programs.
“Expectations are premeditated resentments.”
I find this to be a powerful and true statement. Here’s why.
Everything is energy, including our thoughts and the words we speak and write.
Expectations become prescriptions for behavior.
When expectations are at play the emotional body is energetically involved. Energy can get stuck in the emotional body due to conditioning and programming from family scripts, hereditary legacies, gender roles, societal belief systems, peer expectations, etcetera.
Expectations are always externally driven. The ego is involved when an expectation is at play. There is a level of judgment involved as well.
They are not necessarily good or bad. The main thing to be aware of is that they are driven by the ego. Since expectations become prescriptions for behavior, expectations are not always in alignment with where your spirit wants to be.
When you’re in the energy of expectations, you’re no longer open to receive assistance from Spirit. You’ve removed your ability to manifest. From a Higher Self perspective, they are debilitating.
If you’re interested in living a life that’s more heart-based and in line with your soul’s path, it behooves you to look at the expectations you hold and to choose to bring awareness to them and perhaps even let them go.
I invite you to learn more about the expectations you hold by engaging in the following exercise.
Write down responses to the following questions in your journal.
What are my expectations of my:
Self?
Partner?
Family?
Friends?
Coworkers and boss?
You can include additional prompts to see where else they arise in your world. For example, what are your expectations of women? Of men? Of Healthcare providers? Of other drivers on the road? You get the picture 🙂
When you notice you’re holding onto them, I encourage you to inquire where they came from. Did these expectations originate from you? Did they come from your parents? A healthcare provider? A teacher? The culture at large? Once you have an idea of where each expectation originated, energetically give each expectation back to whomever or wherever it came from.
By letting go of expectations you’ll create a lot more space to bring in what’s in your best and highest good.
