Hope and expectation might look like words that have the same meaning.
Well…
No!
But people use it interchangeably.
Defining hope and expectation (since I made you doubt yourself!)
Hope is a desire to wish for something to happen in the future. Hope implies that it is not under an individual’s control. There is no place for will power as there is a trust in fate attached to the word hope.
Expectation is a belief that a particular outcome is anticipated. Expectation has more to do with logic. We tend to think we can force a desired expectation to happen. So, it’s more hands on.
To hope is better than to expect
Being hopeful considers that the future is uncertain but this moment you want to say that you have a positive outlook for the future. When you hope, you are deciding that it is probable. It is what you hope for the world that you want for the world and work towards.
Whereas expectation assumes based on your limited understanding of the world that a particular outcome is the most probable. When you expect, your ego can take the driver seat and decide that you will do anything in your power to make the expectation a reality. Expectation is simply a belief. It is an assumption. When it turns out to be untrue, like any other strongly held expectation, it always leads to a negative experience.
So when in doubt, this is how you can know (if you are still confused!)
When you let go, there is hope. It frees you. When you hold on and stress yourself you are expecting, which is just a false belief. It restricts you.
