‘Serendipity’s Embrace’ teaches us how to manage expectations
It’s frustrating when our expectations are not met and it’s tiring to fall into the same trap of expecting too much. So here are the Serendipity’s Embrace (2024) leads who subtly show us how to lower expectations.
Serendipity's Embrace. Images throughout: tvN
Overwhelmed by disappointments, we sometimes do things that lead to regret — as Dr. Robert Leahy (one of the experts in regret) said, “High expectation is one of the causes of regrets.”
Fortunately, Miami-based psychologist Dr. Ilisa Kaufman shared some tips on how to lower one’s expectations, and the leads of Serendipity’s Embrace have subtly demonstrated those tips to us with these actions.
Empathizing with your loved ones’ preference
Kang Hoo-yeong (Chae Jong-hyeop)
On the second night of Lee Hong-joo (Kim So-hyun) and Kang Hoo-yeong’s (Chae Jong-hyeop) official relationship, Hoo-yeong is shown at home, lying comfortably on his couch while holding his phone close to him. A few seconds later, he sits up, looks at his phone, and says “Hong-joo isn’t the type that contacts her boyfriend often. We’re similar in that regard.”
His empathy resonates with Dr. Kaufman’s first tip: have self-awareness of your capability to do the things you expect from other people.
This means that if you have difficulties doing it yourself, you should minimize your expectations that others can do it. Although it’s not impossible that people could meet your expectations (due to our differences), it’s safer not to assume and expect too much from them.
Focusing on self-improvement
Kwon Sang-pil (Lee Won-jung)
“Until my restaurant is on track, I won’t date anyone,” answered Kwon Sang-pil (Lee Won-jung) to Hong-joo’s question about being single. Sang-pil’s lifestyle is a bullseye for Dr. Kaufman’s second tip: focus on self-improvement so you won’t feel the need to expect as much from others.
Reminding yourself not to have high expectations of others
Lee Hong-jo (Kim So-hyun)
In light of Hong-joo’s conflicted feelings toward her ex-boyfriend and Hoo-yeong, she eventually realizes that she doesn't need a boyfriend to be happy — a wisdom that resonates with another one of Dr. Kaufman’s tips: whenever you feel like expecting something from others, make an effort to say to yourself that you don’t want these high expectations.
Being aware that you cannot control others
Kim Hye-ji (Kim Da-som)
Whenever people disappoint Hye-ji (Kim Da-som), she doesn’t hide her frustration, yet she is able to manage her emotions, self-reflect and not hold a grudge.
Kyeong-taek (Hwang Sung-bin) is one lucky guy because, despite consistently acting awkward and cold to Hye-ji, the latter still tries to get close to him. Hye-ji’s capability to regulate her emotions when circumstances don’t go her way subtly shows: awareness of the fact that you cannot control others, only yourself.
Final Takeaways
Expectations are hard to manage, even the Serendipity’s Embrace leads experience disappointments before they show us the way to manage them.
But perhaps with the constant application of these strategies, there will come a time when we will be able to naturally control our expectations, which are grounded in reality.
