We are entilted to nothing…

An unsettling amount of human suffering in today’s society stems from unmet life expectations. We tend to forget the remarkable odds of our very existence due to the countless factors that must align for each person to be born. Instead of appreciating the gift of life, we focus on a sense of entitlement towards our expected human experiences; finding love, greater purpose, financial means, children, and travel, to name a few. A perspective that does not always align with reality.

The truth is, life is not a wish-granting factory, as author John Green wisely noted. Entitlement leads to unrealistic expectations about what one deserves. This is soon followed by a host of challenging emotions like frustration, resentment, and grief over perceived missed opportunities. It can have far-reaching and long-lasting negative effects on self-worth, resilience, relationships and the ability to experience contentment.

Instead, we should take the time to identify the human experiences we genuinely desire and work diligently to attain them, all while maintaining an understanding that we may leave this earth without experiencing some of what we strive for. Entitlement should play no part in this process.

If we are fortunate enough to have any of these sought-after experiences, we should practice gratitude and recognise that others may not share the same good fortune. Rather than feeling bad about this, we should approach ours with humility and grace.

As human beings, we are fortunate to be alive, but we are entitled to nothing… what a liberating and empowering thought.