In the last week or so, I’ve had a few events where I was anticipating that I would not enjoy them. I wouldn’t say I was absolutely dreading them, but I figured they were going to cause me some discomfort. Of course, once they were over and I looked back on them they weren’t nearly as bad as I had thought in my head. These events have led me to think about anticipation in general.
Anticipation can work in several ways. You can anticipate things you are not excited about, things you are excited about, and anything in between. Not too long ago, I started realizing that big exciting events usually aren’t as awesome in reality as they are in my mind. Sometimes that has been disappointing, but I feel like I have learned to understand that perception. However, when it comes to events I am not excited about, I feel like I still dread those more than I know I should. For the most part, I know it won’t be as bad as I think it will be, but yet I still dwell on it. Why have I been able to be more realistic with the exciting parts but not so with the less exciting ones?
I’m not sure I have an answer for that one. Maybe it’s a work in progress. I imagine every individual perceives these things in different ways. But, here’s a prime example – driving when there is a winter storm. Every time I know I have to go out in a storm the anticipation of it is awful for me. Usually, it is not as bad as I think it will be, but it always seems to be there. Perhaps there is some protective or awareness instincts going on and it is supposed to be helpful. Regardless of what it all means, it is important for me to look at the role anticipation plays into my emotions and life.