"Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations."

- Earl Nightingale

Once upon a time a traveler from a distant town approached a wise man who was just leaving the city the traveler was entering. The traveler stopped the wise man and said, "Can you tell me about the city from whence you have just come . . . what are the quality and character of the citizens here?"

The wise man replied, "First, stranger, tell me: What were the people like in the last town you visited?"

The traveler replied, "Oh they were a cold bunch of people with no kind words for anyone. It was not a happy town; they were very judgmental and the people were mean-spirited and unwelcoming- I couldn't get out of that town fast enough."

The wise man paused and then replied, "Ahhh, I have bad news for you because I believe you will discover that the citizens of this town are exactly same."

A short distance down the road the wise man encountered another distant traveler entering the city. And the traveler asked the same question of the wise man, saying, "What are the quality and character of the citizens of this city, sir?"

Again the wise man replied, "First, stranger, tell me: What were the people like in the last town you visited?"

To which the traveler replied, "Oh they were an amazing group of people! They were outgoing and friendly and welcomed me with open arms. They were unconditionally loving and I felt like each one was my brother or sister. . . . Oh, I miss them greatly."

The wise man paused, and then replied, "Ahhh, I believe you will discover that the citizens of this town are exactly same."

I am uncertain of the origin of this story, but it makes the point very well, doesn't it?

Life tends to respond to our outlook; it shapes itself to meet our expectations, which are birthed in our consciousness or belief system.

By virtue of our most deeply held beliefs we are always becoming cause to our own effect. In the words of author Jon KabatZinn, "Wherever you go, there you are."

In other words, wherever you go on the journey called life, you project your attitude and expectations ahead of you, and life can only be a divine reflector of your consciousness, drawing to you the people, events and circumstances that reflect what you expect to find when you get there.

It might be considered good counsel to keep this in mind the next time you are about to go to that party or business meeting with people you may feel less than loving towards, or the next time you speak with that exspouse, or the next time you go into any other environment where, up until now, you may have generally expected the worst from people, rather than the best.

The secret of the ages is to learn to have great expectations with a very low attachment to the outcome. If you can achieve this, you will discover what true inner peace means.

What I have discovered is that what I expect from others is most often what I get; people generally live up to, or down to the level that I expect them to- it's simply the law of attraction in action.

On a very practical level, give some thought to this principle before you take off on a vacation, before you walk into the post office or the grocery store, and, especially, before you enter your home.

What will you expect your experience to be? Because as any wise man (or woman) knows, you will find the people there to be exactly like you expect them to be. What will you expect of others?

Start with yourself: What is the character and quality of the person who lives in your skin? How do you expect to show up in the world today?

As a suggestion, for the next 24 hours, try paying particular attention to the altitude of your attitude wherever you go.

As you enter a restaurant, pull into a gas station, walk into church, or go into the office, mindfully consider what you are expecting before you arrive.

If you catch yourself expecting less than the best others have to offer, revisit your own intentions, make an adjustment in the altitude of your attitude, and behold how it shows up in others. Ahhh, as within so without, yes?

Expect the best today, because you are the best!