--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: don’t get distracted by your expectations…" description: "\"“don’t get distracted by your expectations about the results.”\" — Henepola Gunaratana" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png" --- # don’t get distracted by your expectations about the results. ![“don’t get distracted by your expectations about the results.” quote by Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png) > ““don’t get distracted by your expectations about the results.”” [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on the present rather than imagined outcomes to maintain clarity and effectiveness. **In simple terms:** Don't let imagined results distract you. Key Takeaway Stay present, act without expectation. Themes mindfulness focus expectations Mood calm focused Type advice mindful When to use this quote - work tasks - creative projects - personal goals - stress management Key Concepts Buddhist practice psychology Questions to Reflect On - What result are you over‑thinking? - How does letting go of outcome change your approach? A Different Perspective Expectations can cause anxiety and hinder performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t get distracted by shiny objects”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/don-t-get-distracted-by-shiny-objects/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [I think my expectations for myself are much more severe and much more direct. You can't work on a film for six years without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/i-think-my-expectations-for-myself-are-much-more-severe-and-much-more/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [Don't be distracted by doubters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/don-t-be-distracted-by-doubters/) [Kid Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [I don't get distracted easily. I'm very focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/i-don-t-get-distracted-easily-i-m-very-focused/) [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-gunnar-solskjaer/) > [“Result won’t come if we don’t provide the reason for it to come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/result-won-t-come-if-we-don-t-provide-the-reason-for-it-to-come/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Eventually it became clear that our emotions, attitudes, and thoughts profoundly affect our bodies, sometimes to the degree of life or death. Soon mind-body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-dossey/eventually-it-became-clear-that-our-emotions-attitudes-and-thoughts/) [Larry Dossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-dossey/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [One should not be too distracted by definitions. Ideas transcend definitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/one-should-not-be-too-distracted-by-definitions-ideas-transcend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/) Senoraroy ## More by Henepola Gunaratana > [You can only have bliss if you don't chase it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-only-have-bliss-if-you-don-t-chase-it/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“we try mentally to grab onto it or push it away. That sets the worry response in motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-try-mentally-to-grab-onto-it-or-push-it-away-that-sets-the-worry/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can learn not to want what you want, to recognize desires but not be controlled by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-not-to-want-what-you-want-to-recognize-desires-but-not/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-buddha-s-message-was-simple-but-profound-neither-a-life-of-self/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Mindfulness helps us freeze the frame so that we can become aware of our sensations and experiences as they are, without the distorting coloration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/mindfulness-helps-us-freeze-the-frame-so-that-we-can-become-aware-of/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [But look within and watch the stuff coming up-restlessness, anxiety, impatience, pain-just watch it come up and don't get involved. Much to your surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/but-look-within-and-watch-the-stuff-coming-up-restlessness-anxiety/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“You can learn to perceive your life as an ever-flowing movement. You can learn to see the continuous flow of all conditioned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-to-perceive-your-life-as-an-ever-flowing-movement-you/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [No problem. You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way, and you just never noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/no-problem-you-are-not-crazier-than-you-were-yesterday-it-has-always/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“We spend all of our energies trying to make ourselves feel better, trying to bury our fears, endlessly seeking security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-spend-all-of-our-energies-trying-to-make-ourselves-feel-better/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Peace is not a thought, not a concept; it is a nonverbal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/peace-is-not-a-thought-not-a-concept-it-is-a-nonverbal-experience/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can't ever get everything you want. It is impossible. Luckily, there is another option: You can learn to control your mind, to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-t-ever-get-everything-you-want-it-is-impossible-luckily-there/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Whatever attitudes we habitually use toward ourselves, we will use on others, and whatever attitudes we habitually use toward others, we will use on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/whatever-attitudes-we-habitually-use-toward-ourselves-we-will-use-on/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [When you have learned compassion for yourself, compassion for others is automatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/when-you-have-learned-compassion-for-yourself-compassion-for-others/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“There is no clinging to the pleasant, no fleeing from the unpleasant. Mindfulness treats all experiences equally, all thoughts equally, all feelings equally. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/there-is-no-clinging-to-the-pleasant-no-fleeing-from-the-unpleasant/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“Place no head above your own.” By this he meant, don’t just accept somebody else’s word. See for yourself. We want you to apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/place-no-head-above-your-own-by-this-he-meant-don-t-just-accept/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) [Explore all 65 Henepola Gunaratana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## More Distracted quotes > [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/) Senoraroy > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [One should not be too distracted by definitions. Ideas transcend definitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/one-should-not-be-too-distracted-by-definitions-ideas-transcend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You cannot control your own population by force, but it can be distracted by consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-cannot-control-your-own-population-by-force-but-it-can-be/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“She thinks I am easily distracted when I drive. There were a few fender benders, but she doesn’t actually realize I was playing bumper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-ann-lunsford/she-thinks-i-am-easily-distracted-when-i-drive-there-were-a-few/) [Leigh Ann Lunsford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-ann-lunsford/) > [I dipped into his brain. He wasn't happy that I wasn't wearing a bra, because my boobs distracted him. He was thinking I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-dipped-into-his-brain-he-wasn-t-happy-that-i-wasn-t-wearing-a-bra/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-crosby/it-seemed-intended-by-the-blessed-providence-of-god-that-i-should-be/) [Fanny Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-crosby/) Browse all 593 Distracted quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“don’t get distracted by your expectations about the results.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henepola Gunaratana" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectations-about-the-results/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distracted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectations-about-the-results/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/henepola-gunaratana-10550_distracted_don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectation_3123092.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“don’t get distracted by your expectations about the results.” — Henepola Gunaratana", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henepola Gunaratana", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“don’t get distracted by your expectations...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectations-about-the-results/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-get-distracted-by-your-expectations-about-the-results/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```