How To Think Positively Without Expectation

One of the toughest things about keeping a positive mindset is that the same spiritual teachers who tell us to keep visualizing, also tell us to devoid ourselves of expectation. In other words, we should believe that our worthiest thoughts are going to manifest into real “things”, yet we shouldn’t get attached to the results.

This does seem to be a major conflict of interest. How can someone wish for something and still be devoid of expectation? You would think one would cancel out the other, or at least put a real damper on your hopes and dreams.

I’ve labored over these seemingly nonsensical and contradictory universal laws, but I finally understood the dichotomy after watching an old Peter Sellers movie for the 4^th time. The movie is “Being There” and wisdom of that now classic, dark comedy helps to unravel the mystery.

Peter Sellers as Chauncey Gardiner. How To Think Positively Without Expectation

To Be or Not To Be

The title tells you something immediately. “Being There” is the act of “just being” – living without judgment or expectation. Whatever happens, happens. It is what it is, neither good nor bad. The central character of “Being There” is Seller’s character, Chance the gardener – a man who lives in the present, with no past and no vision of the future.

Chance is a simple-minded, good-natured, illiterate gentleman, who was brought up by a wealthy citizen of Washington D.C. He has two great loves, gardening and television. Completely sheltered from the outside world he tends to the garden and blissfully, silently watches TV.

When his benefactor dies, Chance finds himself without a job, without a home and without a friend. He is forced to venture out into a strange, unfamiliar world. Completely unfazed, dressed in the finery to which he is accustomed, he begins his journey.

Chance roams the streets of D.C. As fate would have it, he steps out into traffic and is hit by a passing limousine belonging to an important Washington businessman and lobbyist. The businessman’s wife, Eve, played by Shirley MacLaine ushers Chance into the limo insisting that he recuperate at her home. Chance accepts her offer and takes his first ride in a vehicle. Glancing out the window at the passing view he exclaims, “ It’s just like television, but you can see farther.”

Before long, Chance finds himself much father along than he could ever imagine; rubbing elbows with political movers and shakers who are all entirely enraptured by his simple wisdom and good nature. They misinterpret his childlike references to gardening and television as mystical allegories of great truth. Even his name is misconstrued and he is soon known not as Chance, but as the charming newcomer, Chauncey Gardiner.

Chauncey, of course, goes with the flow, totally innocent of his emerging influence. He speaks only of what he knows, which is gardening; His view of the world is limited to what he has seen on TV. When asked to suggest solutions to impossible political problems he simply replies, "In a garden, growth has its season...as long as the roots are not severed, all is well, and all will be well in the garden." Such insight does not go unnoticed.

Word quickly spreads that there has emerged within the political social scene a brilliant new personality. All of D.C.’s elite is enraptured by Chauncey’s uncomplicated selfless wisdom and before long, Washington is at his feet. Chaunce; however remains unfazed by fame and celebrity. He is just who he is - happily sailing through life undaunted, fearlessly and without expectation.

Chance’s success story ends with the much debated final scene in the movie, where he steps out onto a lake and in godlike fashion, walks on water. Yes, our hero may appear godlike, but the film’s theme is more universal. The final shot of Chauncey walking on water is the perfect demonstration of the law of detachment. If we dare to detach ourselves from our expectations, simply have faith, simply let it be, we can create miracles.