Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most

"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way." These words from Eileen Caddy are a powerful call to embrace a life of boldness, optimism, and unshakable belief in the potential of the present moment. Caddy encourages us to reach for our highest aspirations, to expect the best outcomes not as distant dreams, but as immediate possibilities. In this statement, she challenges the notion that greatness must be delayed, reminding us that the power to achieve extraordinary things lies within our grasp right now, if only we are bold enough to claim it.

The ancient wisdom of the Greeks often spoke of ambition and virtue as central to a life well-lived. Aristotle, in his reflections on the good life, spoke of the importance of striving for the highest human potential. He argued that we should aim for excellence in all aspects of life, seeking not mediocrity, but the full expression of our abilities. Similarly, Caddy's words reflect this ancient philosophy—our sights should not be set on small goals, but on grand visions that inspire and challenge us to become more than we think we are capable of. By expecting the wonderful, we invite it into our lives, and by aiming high, we rise to meet those lofty expectations.

In the heroic narratives of the past, we see countless examples of individuals who set their sights high and achieved greatness by transcending the limitations of their circumstances. Consider the story of Alexander the Great, whose ambition to conquer the known world was guided by a vision of a unified empire that stretched across continents. Though he faced countless challenges and setbacks, his unwavering belief in his own destiny allowed him to accomplish what many believed was impossible. His story, like Caddy’s words, reminds us that nothing is too good or too ambitious if we are willing to pursue it with conviction and perseverance.

Similarly, in the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci set his sights on mastering multiple disciplines, from painting to engineering to anatomy. His vision was expansive, far beyond what was considered conventional or practical in his time. Leonardo did not allow the limits of his era to constrain his creativity or his dreams. He expected the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future, but as he worked tirelessly in the present. His belief that nothing was too good led to inventions, artworks, and ideas that shaped the course of history. His life stands as a testament to the power of high aspirations and the refusal to be hampered by doubt or circumstance.

Caddy’s message speaks to the power of the present moment—the now. So often, we are conditioned to think that greatness is something that happens only in the distant future, that we must wait for the right moment, the right circumstances, or the right conditions to pursue our dreams. But Caddy, like Ralph Waldo Emerson before her, insists that the future is not something that will arrive someday; it is something that we create by the choices we make today. Emerson, in his writings, often spoke of the self-reliant individual who does not wait for external approval or circumstances to change. Instead, that person acts boldly in the present, fully embracing their power to shape their own destiny.

The lesson we can draw from Eileen Caddy’s words is one of unwavering belief in the potential of the present moment. We are not bound by the limitations of the past, nor should we wait for the future to deliver what we desire. The time to act, to aim high, and to expect the best outcomes is now. It is not enough to dream; we must take the bold steps today to create the life we envision. And in doing so, we must believe that there is nothing too good for us, that our dreams are not only possible but destined to unfold if we allow ourselves to embrace the fullness of what we are capable of achieving.

In practical terms, this means that we should remove self-imposed limitations and expect the best from ourselves and the world around us. We must not wait for “the right time” but start acting today, with full confidence that we are worthy of greatness. Whether in our careers, relationships, or personal growth, we must begin by setting high goals and taking immediate action toward them. By cultivating a mindset that expects wonderful things, we open ourselves to the possibilities that already exist in the present. Nothing should hold us back—not fear, not doubt, not past failures—but only the firm belief that the best is yet to come.

Let us remember Caddy's call to reach high, to live with boldness in the present, and to never allow ourselves to be hampered by the constraints of what others think is possible. By doing so, we not only create a life filled with purpose and fulfillment, but we become examples to others of what it means to live with vision and courage. The future we seek is not a distant land—it is being forged today, in the choices we make and the actions we take. Aim high, for the sky is not the limit, but the beginning.