The theory of expectations!

[Rituu B. Nanda]

“I now have fewer expectations from others,” said Ashika from UNICON Nepal, where she works as a community facilitator.

When I asked if ARC (Addressing Root cause initiative) had affected her life in any way, her answer surprised me. Ashika explained that she belongs to a spiritual group where she had heard teachings about self-reliance and expecting less from others. SALT provided her a way to practise the teaching in her own life.She began to see her own strength more clearly. She realised that many things she thought needed others, she could actually do herself. SALT, she said, helped her live what she had previously only understood in theory.

Bishal, a community facilitator from Kopila Nepal, shared something similar. He has had a difficult life and has faced many struggles. Over time he had begun to believe that he could manage many things on his own. Through SALT this belief strengthened that he did not always need to depend on others.

As facilitators listened to one another, they began to see how their own thinking and behaviour are connected to their work with communities. Several facilitators said that through SALT they had begun to see their own strengths more clearly. If this realization could happen within them, they felt it could also happen within communities.

Krishna from Peace for People brought out the connection between expectations from others and self reliance. He felt that when one begins to notice one's strength, one begins to rely less on others.  Simiilarly he further said that unless the organization staff change their own outlook, value themselves and other staff, only then can they help communities recognise their own strength.

These conversations happened during a gathering of SALT facilitators from the Saaramba ARC cohort in Nepal, supported by the Global Fund for Children. Gratitude to the community facilitators of Saarambha cohort who brought a lot of clarity in my thinking as in many places in South Asia there is a strong belief in NGO staff as well as communities themselves that communities have limited capacity to solve their own problems and that solutions must come from outside. Because of this, people often begin to depend on outsiders, especially NGOs.

Photos courtesy Bishal and Krishna

[Santi rambari]

Very nice writing. I also agree with your writing. SALT is a mirror where you can see yourself. We don't have time to see ourselves or don't want to see ourselves. Our mind is set up to put the needs of our lives in the hands of others. Such conversations are very much needed.

[Parvez Hassan]

Such a powerful reflection on self-reliance and inner strength. It’s inspiring to see how SALT is helping facilitators and communities recognize their own capacities and shift from dependency to empowerment.

[Sadia Jafrin]

Thank you for sharing, Rituu. Keeping expectations lower often brings greater satisfaction and happiness. I realize I have a lot to learn in this area myself, as my high expectations sometimes leave me feeling exhausted.

[Shahrukh Atpade]

This blog conveys an important message that the SALT process helps an individual recognize their own strengths and become less dependent on others. It is not possible to bring about real and lasting change in a community without bringing about change within themselves. This is because it does not take long for a society to change once an individual has changed.