If attachment is not connection, then what is it? I suspect that attachment might be expectation. Or at least that exception is a component of attachment. If you are attached to a person, you expect something from them. You may expect them to make you feel a certain way, or you may expect them to solve your problems. You may expect them to love you forever. You may be disappointed. If you are attached to a thing, you may expect it to comfort you. You may expect that it will never break. Attachment to things and people causes such pain precisely because we are placing our hopes and dreams on these external people and things and we expect the future with those people and things to look a certain way. This external expectation leads to disappointment and pain. Because, after all, they cannot bring us comfort or joy. Only we can bring that to ourselves. You expect these people and things to make you happy. But only you can uncover your happiness from within.
Connection has no expectations. Connection is here and now. It is fully accepting of what is and does not judge.
So ask yourself… if you are wondering if you might be attached to a person or thing instead of connected to it… what to you expect from this person or thing? Can you eliminate your expectations and thereby eliminate your attachment and make room for connection instead?
