--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you stop looking forward to things…" description: "\"“When you stop looking forward to things, you get used to low expectations and you realise, what's the big deal about success anyway? If we're all to a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/hilary-thayer-hamann-14252_big-deal_when-you-stop-looking-forward-to-things_1275980.png" --- # When you stop looking forward to things, you get used to… ![“When you stop looking forward to things, you get used to low expectations and you realise, what's the big deal about success anyway? If we're all to attain everything we've been conditioned to desire - wealth, fame, education, prestige, security - then those things will become so prevalent that…” quote by Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/hilary-thayer-hamann-14252_big-deal_when-you-stop-looking-forward-to-things_1275980.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/hilary-thayer-hamann-14252_big-deal_when-you-stop-looking-forward-to-things_1275980.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/hilary-thayer-hamann-14252_big-deal_when-you-stop-looking-forward-to-things_1275980.png) > ““When you stop looking forward to things, you get used to low expectations and you realise, what's the big deal about success anyway? If we're all to attain everything we've been conditioned to desire - wealth, fame, education, prestige, security - then those things will become so prevalent that they'll become meaningless.”” [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constantly seeking external validation leads to low expectations and emptiness; true fulfillment comes from intrinsic values, not societal benchmarks. **In simple terms:** Chasing status makes success feel meaningless. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth over external rewards. Themes expectations fulfillment societal pressure intrinsic values Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal relationships - financial planning - creative projects - mental health Key Concepts meaning existentialism consumerism Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters to you beyond societal standards? - How can you cultivate internal satisfaction? 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When you strive for quiet, you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/the-unusual-thing-about-quiet-is-that-when-you-seek-it-it-is-almost/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [“I liked the idea of marking the place where a life ends as opposed to the place a corpse is buried. And also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/i-liked-the-idea-of-marking-the-place-where-a-life-ends-as-opposed-to/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [“My hand reaches for his eye. He does not pull away but breathes into my touch. His normal lid drifts closed, and beneath my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/my-hand-reaches-for-his-eye-he-does-not-pull-away-but-breathes-into/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [“Envy is awful. Unlike jealousy, which comes from the threat of losing what you cherish, envy is a dark desire for things over which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/envy-is-awful-unlike-jealousy-which-comes-from-the-threat-of-losing/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [“Jocks were pretty much exempt from the standards that bound the rest of us. Teachers and administrators humor them because it's in everyone's interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/jocks-were-pretty-much-exempt-from-the-standards-that-bound-the-rest/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [“This is where I falter. This is where I lose myself. 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