Letting go of expectations - a life lesson from art making

When I create pieces like the one I’m working on now, I try not to hold too firm an idea of the finished outcome. I’ve learned that letting a piece unfold naturally produces stronger work, but I didn’t always approach art this way. Holding expectations loosely was a lesson I learned years ago.

Back when I worked with hand-colored black-and-white darkroom prints, I spent hours layering colored pencil onto one particular piece, carefully bringing to life the vision I had in my mind. My art time was limited—mostly during toddler naps—so each piece took a great deal of effort. But when I finally finished this particular piece, it didn’t look the way I had imagined. Frustrated, I tucked it away in a drawer, unwilling to throw away something I had invested so much time in.

Months later, I revisited the concept and colored another print of the same image. This time, I was pleased with the result. Curious to compare, I dug out the original piece I had been so unhappy with—and to my surprise, I liked it even more than the second one. That moment taught me an invaluable lesson: when I allow a piece to develop organically, responding layer by layer rather than forcing a rigid expectation, the work turns out stronger.

I’ve found this mindset applies beyond art. In life, when I expect things to go a certain way, reality often deviates, leading to disappointment. But when I approach situations with open expectations, I’m less likely to feel let down and more able to appreciate things as they are.

This isn’t to say I don’t plan—I teach semester-long college courses, I prepare artwork for shows, and I rely on structure to manage my very full schedule. But over years of teaching, I’ve learned to expect that some students will drop out before the semester ends. Rather than being frustrated by it, I see it as a natural part of the process. When fewer students drop, it’s a pleasant surprise rather than an expectation left unmet.

This perspective also shapes how I engage with current events. While I wasn’t thrilled after the last election, I didn’t assume things would go particularly well or badly. Instead, I’ve let the situation unfold and responded accordingly. When I see injustice—especially when it’s framed in the spiritual beliefs I hold dear—I feel compelled to speak out. If something is done in the name of Christ yet contradicts His teachings, I see it as my duty to address it. That doesn’t mean I’m panicked or hopeless, but rather that I believe in taking action, however small.

I’m eager to see where this piece will end up when I’m done with it.

What expectations are you holding onto that might not be serving you? Are they setting you up for disappointment? I’m not suggesting we abandon expectations altogether, but how we hold them can significantly impact our emotional well-being. Letting go of rigid ideas can open us up to something even better than we first imagined.