Great Expectations

Dickens’ novel “Great Expectations” explores the idea that affection, loyalty, and conscience are more important than social advancement, wealth, and ambition. In passing, it also takes a look at continual (self) improvement through the eyes of Pip, the main character.

Pip has many “great expectations” of himself and his future. Dickens shows us how such attachment to the future can blind us and rob us of simple happiness, and how an attachment to the past can similarly skew our perceptions of ourself and others.

Expectations are very familiar to us in the world of software development. Expectations of others, and our own expectations, too.

In a very different book, “The Power of Now”, Eckhart Tolle also explores the question of “how do men know who they are?” and warns of the hegemony of the mind:

“Pain is inevitable as long as you are identified with your mind.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry — all forms of fear — are cause by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

“Nothing out there will ever satisfy you except temporarily and superficially, but you may need to experience many disappointments before you realize that truth.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

– Bob