Unf*ck Yourself
Gary John Bishop
Contributed by Micheal Celestin
Chapter 8
Summary

The author gives the reader a chance to imagine a scenario of setting up a business for self-employment. Everything seems well until the last bit goes wrong. The entrepreneur thinks that all is lost and is about to give up. Generally, many thoughts are raising in his or her mind thinking maybe the plan was a mistake from the beginning (Bishop 85).  Bishop also covers on expecting the unexpected. Usually, people have expectations and some remain buried deep to the point where people only recognize them after a failure occurs. He calls them hidden expectations. He says that one’s powerlessness directly correlates to the gap between one’s hidden expectations and his or her reality. He adds that the greater the gap the worse one actually feels (Bishop 86). The author makes it clear that expectations usually get in the way of people’s real lives, real issues, and items that require attention. Bishop believes that those expectations always draw an individual’s power away from the things that can improve his or her life or accomplish one’s goal down to a pathway of no power, no results and wasted time (Bishop 86).

Bishop suggests that people should know how to deal with their hidden expectations. Ideally, these hidden expectations always cause pain and anger whenever one fails to achieve them. As Bishop puts it, the mind would love to predict and plan for everything that is going to happen. However, that is not possible and the expectations not only have a negative effect on people’s emotional state, they actually leave them less powerful than they really could be (Bishop 89). Many people talk about free will in their lives and Bishop decides to mention something on the concept. Usually, human beings operate in free will and many believe that they do whatever they want to do without anyone controlling them. However, the author sees the case as different. He says that a series of unconscious thought process usually drive an individual whenever he or she is making a conscious decision. To avoid this issue, one has to understand how his or her mind works, see what it does, and be able to use that information to cognitively choose something else (Bishop 90).

The author says that instead of expecting something and feeling slighted when it fails to happen, one should learn to let go of expectations. For instance, if there is something one wants, he or she should ask for it without having expectations. In addition, doing something positive or generous should be genuine rather than expecting a favor back for the actions (Bishop 92).

Analysis

Expectations are one of the things that affect humanity. Ideally, most people around the world always do things while having the expectation to get something back. Some of the expectations may be unsaid or hidden, but they are always there. These issues make people regret, blame, or even anger whenever something fails. For this reason, Gary Bishop finds it convenient to discuss the issue. His explanation of the concept is real and vivid. He even uses examples where the reader has to imagine situations and the possible outcomes. This approach helps in making the discussion more vivid and relevant.

The author also offers a plan for resolving the issue of having hidden expectations. Ideally, it is clear that everyone experiences the situation and Bishop is trying to offer a relevant and effective remedy for the situation. People have to learn how their minds work if they are to take back their free will. Otherwise, they will only think that they are using free will but instead, they will be under the control of their subconscious into making various decisions just like puppets.

Additionally, the human race should learn to let go of expectations. People can do many things without expecting anything back and in this way, humanity will be happy and peaceful.

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