Melva Bintang's Key Ideas from Live Free
by DeVon Franklin

When you set your expectation with intention, you aren't just surviving; you're crafting a life that allows you the freedom to flourish. Remember, re-programming is not a one-night solutions, it requires continuous updates; it's an ongoing journey of personal evolution.

Cultural expectations: sounds familliar?

Respecting your culture doesn't mean you can't forge your own path within it. As you stand on your path, remember that both culture and faith offer maps but you're the navigator. Your life is a canvas and you hold the brush. It takes courage to paint outside the lines, but doing so allows you to create a life that's authentically yours, free from cultural expectations.

It's easy to get lost in a fantasy of what you thing your partner should be like, how they should react, and what they should understand about you. However, the world doesn't work that way. The silent hopes and assumptions can skew the reality of who your partner is and what they're capable of offering.

A heartfelt conversations can solve half of the problem. Relationships need checkups, a time to exchange feedback, and to really listen not just to respond. Don’t seek to control; instead, seek to share, to understand, to grow. Be ready for love, be open to change, and most of all, be true – to yourself, your partner, and the love you both deserve.

The professional landscape is a realm distinct from other areas of your life. When considering your own expectations around job performance, it's important to be mindful of this dynamic.

Be proactive in understanding both the stated and unstated expectations, This could mean observing, asking thorough questions and even reading between the lines to truly decode your boss's priorities, working style, and expected deliverables.

If the times comes when your expectations in your career are no longer fulfilled by your current company, listen closely to your gut. What do you really want from your career? How does your current job fit into this vision? It's important to find work that's meaningful to you.

You can live an authentic life by examining your expectations, release those imposed on you and intentionally embracing what align to your true self. Expectations are shackles unless you let them be. they're meant to provide healthy structure and purposeful direction.