How To Close The Reality/Expectation Gap Without Losing Your Dinner

I have Little House on the Prairie fantasies. I want to tend chickens, pickle peaches, or make yoghurt. (I don't). 

So one day I decided to grow my own bean sprouts. I bought beans, soaked them overnight, kept them in a dark place, rinsed them twice a day, and voila! they sprouted. I planned my next stir fry. 

After a while I noticed that my sprouts were too skinny and too short. I kept watering them and waiting for them to grow bigger. 

Instead they turned brown and died. 

Whaaaat?! They started off well and I cared for them faithfully. Finally I realized what happened: I had been expecting giant SOYBEAN sprouts, not delicate MUNG bean sprouts. 

My delicious and perfect mung bean sprouts died because they weren't what I wanted them to be. 

Had I been curious sooner about why things weren't going as I expected, I would have had dinner instead of compost. 

Don't be me. Notice that gap between expectation and reality. Be curious. Have an open mind. You will figure out the cause before it wilts into failure. 

Are your expectations or assumptions to blame?

Is your process at fault? 

My process was 100%. Failure came from rigidly believing that reality would conform to my thoughts. I can expect soy bean sprouts as much as I want, but I won't get them if I am starting with mung beans. REALITY ALWAYS WINS. 

When there is a reality/expectation gap PAY ATTENTION EARLY and with OPEN HEARTED CURIOSITY.