Lower expectations can lead to greater happiness.

I was reading an article about the Danes and happiness. More than 2/3 of Danes report being very happy with their lives. The article stated that Danes would make good Buddhists because they live in the present instead of grasping toward happiness in the future. They have a phrase "lige nu" which means just now. Danes don't live on a "hedonic treadmill" and seem to instinctually know that expectations kill happiness.
Expectations are also lower in older populations. They haven't lowered their aspirations necessarily; they just have a greater capacity for acceptance. Expectations are also lower during a recession. People seem to expect less and so they find happiness when they gain anything.
Happiness equals reality minus expectations. This said, we can either boost our reality or lower our expectations. "Set thy heart upon thy work not thy reward," says Lord Krishna.
In the shower this morning, I was thinking about expectations and what they mean in my life and what they have meant in the past. I know that great expectations were held for me by my family. I was the oldest. I had a talent and I was to go on to college and do great things. At different points in my life, I disappointed my family because of the great expectations they held for me. As I have had children, I know I've had certain expectations for them, but maybe they are just hopes and dreams. I want great things for my family but if those things don't happen, will I love them less or judge them harshly? I hope not. I've had to alter the hopes and dreams I had for my oldest child as she's grown into adulthood. She's making choices for her life that I didn't really dream of but now I watch as her own dreams unfold.
Placing my expectations upon others has caused anxiety in my life. I hope I'm learning to NOT have expectations of people, places and things because as the Big Book tells me, I don't have any control over those things. I'm choosing to live as a Dane and be pleasantlysurprised when great things happen. Peace!