Positive thinking is a much abused term. Thanks to the plethora of books and movies on the subject, it has been an oft-discussed subject in the last few years. Indeed, a lot of us have used it to better our lives. However, the concept remains under-used given our conditioned thought process which brings in barriers of what we call practicality.

When was the last time you rushed for that meeting, praying hard that traffic would be low so that you reach the meeting on time? And yet, despite your fervent prayers, you were right there in the middle of the road surrounded by the fumes and cacophony we release in the name of comfortable transportation. In spite of all the positive thinking mantras you wake up with, you mutter “as always!!!”

Wait a minute – as always? Did you expect it? Yes. If you are a staunch positive thinking believer you would yell at me now and say “No!! Of course not!!” And I’d continue to be rather in your face when I maintain: Yes, you did expect it.

That is where the term is abused. Positive thinking is not merely about hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. It is about distinguishing between our aspirations and expectations. You may have aspired to reach the meeting on time, but you expected to be caught in traffic. Simple enough, but what did you lend your thought energy to? Chances are high that you focused on preparing the alibi for being late, just in case. Naturally, the universe being the genie that it is, conspired to give you that event that you prepared so much for.

No wonder then that most spiritual practices talk of not having expectations. Does that mean we renounce worldly desires? Not at all. For even spiritual masters desire that the world move ahead with them. However, they do not get caught in the expectation. They simple lend energy to their desire.

An aspiration is a desire to experience a certain state of being, be it tasting an ice cream or heading an organization. It is great to have aspirations for they shape our lives and lend us purpose. They connect us to ourselves and in that, enhance spiritual growth even through the most material of desires. What stultify this growth are our expectations.

Expectations are our desire to control the modus operandi of the universe. While aspirations are about the end goals, the expectations are about the path leading to them. You may aspire “to reach the meeting on time”. But you may expect “traffic on the way to delay you”. On a practical level, one may argue that it is sensible to consider the traffic factor. But given the workings of our universe, the more energy we lend to a particular thought, the more easily it materializes. Therefore, traffic is more easily manifested than your aspiration. So how does one deal with this?

Eliminate the expectation. Focus on the end. If you do wish to focus on the path to it, do so in awareness. Start early so that you reach the meeting place early and get time to freshen up and be comfortable. Do not start early so that you provide time for getting stuck on the road.

If you aspire for a life of abundant wealth, save so that you can buy that dream home and enjoy marvelous vacations – do not save for the rainy day. If you aspire for that plum position, work to be all set for it when it comes along – do not work so that you have a shield for your performance appraisal.

Positive thinking has been abused because most of us think positively about the aspirations and yet are negative about the expectations. And because we put in so much of thought into the expectations, they manifest faster than the aspirations. Sit back and analyse what you think, and how. Do you aspire now to unleash the power of positive thinking and manifest miracles? Great, but beware: Do not expect to be satisfied with anything less than that, just because you are taking baby steps.

The universe is impartial. Input: Thought; Output: Reality. Period. Whether you think more about your expectations or aspirations is your choice. Therein lies freewill; that is where we create destiny.