It can be limiting to enter a healing situation, as either the practitioner or the seeker of healing, with specific expectations. We all naturally do this, but it's a very logical (left-brained) way to approach healing, which is distinctly a non-logical (right-brained) phenomenon.
In other words, healing does not compute. It is holographic and holistic. It does not work on just one level or one area -- you experience healing benefits throughout your being, body, behavior, thinking, and life. Having expectations about your session limits your results by blinding you to seeing and appreciating or even allowing deeper healing in unexpected venues.
Eric Pearl, founder of The Reconnection, suggests coming to your healing session in a state of expectancy rather than with specific expectations or demands. Know that it will be good, but don't make specific demands on it. This wisdom is not limited to healing. It's also great advice for our spiritual journey and practices as well (a major side effect of which is... well... healing).
I came across a lovely description of this issue over Thanksgiving while rereading The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson, page 347. Please enjoy their insights:
"A major obstacle to regular practice is the expectation that we will attain a specific result. Ironically, this obstacle is a problem especially if we have made significant breakthroughs with our practice. The personality seizes on breakthroughs and wants to re-create them on demand. But this is not possible because breakthroughs occur only when we are completely open to the present moment, while anticipating a certain payoff distracts us from such experiences. In this moment, a new gift or insight is available -- although more likely not the one that was available last week. Furthermore, the personality may use our breakthroughs as justifications to stop practicing, saying, "Great! You've had a breakthrough! Now you're 'fixed' and you don't need to do this any more."
P.S. Funny story: I just opened a Dove chocolate as I saved this post, and the saying on the inner wrapper is: "Set your goals high but not your expectations." :)
