The Problem With Unrealistic Expectations

Here’s why our expectations may cause problems for us.

Photo by Fernando Brasil on Unsplash

We all have hopes and dreams that involve other people fitting in with what we want. However, these aspirations are often unrealistic.

Unrealistic expectations can involve:

• Setting goals we cannot fulfill
• Having visions of what we want to happen that are impossible to achieve
• Manipulating others to get what we want
• Anticipating specific outcomes, such as an alcoholic spouse getting clean or our children will always be well-behaved
• Expecting our marriage and other relationships to be near perfect
• Becoming angry when people let us down
• Feeling like failures when we do not get what we want
• Thinking people are always going to be fair
• Hoping for changes in others that will not happen

Expectations are normal, but if they are unrealistic, we may experience disappointment, frustration, and anger.

How Unrealistic Expectations Can Be Harmful

They may keep us stuck in our life journey
Sometimes we get stuck in our expectations instead of choosing other options. We stay in a…