Do Your Best, Let Go of the Rest: A Lesson from the Bhagavad Gita
Expectations are good, but not that important.
As I’ve often understood expectations, people say it’s wise not to have any.
The logic is simple: if you don’t have expectations, you won’t be disappointed.
But I think that sentiment is only half true.
Expectations, in some form, are important—but maybe not as important as we like to think.
Let me explain.
The Gita and the Art of Letting Go
There’s a famous verse in the Bhagavad Gita that goes:
"You have a right to perform your duties, but not to the fruits of your actions."
(Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
I’ve read this verse many times, but it means something different to me now than it did when I was younger.
As human beings, we all have prescribed duties—to our families, our friends, our communities, and our work. But the Gita reminds us: we’re not entitled to the results of those duties. We show up, we give our best, but we must let go of what comes next.
The Jerry Rice Example
There’s a great story about NFL legend Jerry Rice that illustrates this perfectly.
The day after winning the Super Bowl, his quarterback Steve Young went to the 49ers’ training facility to run some errands. To his surprise, he saw Jerry Rice—arguably the greatest wide receiver of all time—already running bleachers, dripping in sweat.
Think about that. The team had just reached the pinnacle of professional football, and Jerry was back at work like nothing had happened.
That story isn’t just about dedication—it’s about non-attachment.
It’s about showing up every day for your duty, without being ruled by the outcome.
Don’t get me wrong—celebrating is important, and I’m sure he did. But his greatness didn’t come from the Super Bowl wins; it came from the consistent, day-in and day-out work.
A More Personal Example: Vanity, the Mirror & Discipline
We’re all a little vain. And if you say you’re not—even just a little—you’re probably lying.
Most of us don’t need to look like Greek gods, but we do want to look in the mirror and feel good. Let’s be real—sometimes we want to look at ourselves and think, “Yeah, I’d hit that.” (Okay, maybe I’m kidding... but you know what I mean.)
If we apply this same Gita-based mindset to how we care for our bodies, everything shifts.
Taking care of your body—through food, movement, being outside with nature, rest—is important. But it doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t need to be extreme.
The question I’ve started asking myself more these days is:
"How Can I serve my body today?"
Some days, I work out hard. Other days, I don’t. I have a family. I have responsibilities.
I do what I can, and I’m okay with that. I still have goals. I have milestones I’d like to reach. But I try not to let those expectations weigh down every moment of my life.
Because constantly chasing a perfect body—or any perfect outcome—gets exhausting.
The truth is, the process is the reward.
How I end up looking? That’s just the fruit.
And as the Gita reminds me—I’m not here for the fruit. I’m here to do my work.
Whether you’re building a business, caring for family, creating art, or just trying to get to the gym twice a week—expectations will always try to sneak in.
But if we can stay grounded in our effort, detached from the result, life becomes lighter.
Show up.
Do your best.
Let go of the rest.
Everything else is extra.
With love,
Anand