Expecting too much from other people will only lead you to disappointment. Because accepting your existing darkness is better than being lost in false positivity. It's okay to be not okay all the time.
Sometimes what we expect to happen and the realiry of the situation are 2 very different things. Expectations are nice to have. They give you goals, purpose, joy, and even something to look forward to, but you have to understand that life happens: you're not always in control.
If you're able to examine and adjust what you assume others will do or provide, you can become more self-sufficient, realistic, and positive. In addition, you'll be able to focus on things that matter most.
Here are 7 things to stop expecting from others:
1. Praise And Appreciation
You may receive praise or not. You can’t depend upon it from others. If you do good things expecting others to acknowledge it, you set yourself up for disappointment.
Don’t do something to earn people’s gratitude; instead, do something because you want to do it. Do it because it helps you feel better, or it matches your integrity.
Praise yourself. When you take a step in the right direction, overcome a funky mood, or do something kind for others pat yourself on the back.
It doesn’t matter what others see. What matters is what you think about yourself. Make a personal commitment to engage in encouraging self-talk. This leads to self-validation.
2. Be Perfect
We always look for a ‘perfect’ friend, a perfect partner, a ‘perfect’ boss, so on and so forth!
Have you ever tried to think that the idea of perfection is essentially relative? What might be perfect for you, might not be perfect for someone else.
Also, we can’t expect others to be perfect when we are filled with so many flaws. The chase of perfection often leads to an obsessive compulsion to have everything just right, which can eventually lead to extreme stress, anxiety, depression, and immensely affect one’s mental well-being.
Accept the fact that people will never live up to your expectations, but acknowledge the fact that they tried their best. This would not only make you feel better, but it’ll also nurture your relationship with others.
3. Be Fine All The Time
It’s a good thing to put ourselves first but this shouldn’t mean neglecting other people’s importance. Be kind and delicate for everyone you meet is fighting their own battles you might not know anything about.
Don’t expect people to be fine all the time. No one is problem-free. Teach yourself to empathy and compassion. Be prepared to find some rudeness, indifference, or even cruelty around. But don’t be in a hurry to judge. Everyone has their reason and the right to not be all right.
4. Do The Right Thing
Life isn’t always fair and people don’t always do the right thing. Your morals and your values will not always be the same as other people. Learn to accept that and don’t be so disappointed the next time someone’s behavior might not rise to your expectations.
The right thing for them might be precisely what they did do. That’s why you should always try to clarify first what is acceptable and what is not, so there won’t be any misunderstandings.
5. Silliness
We need to be silly; to have moments when we are nonsensical, goofy, and irreverent. It keeps us from getting too serious about life. It’s at its best when sharing it with a friend, but sometimes no one is available.
Dancing with our cat, twirling across the living room, or standing on the bed to deliver a soliloquy will bring some silliness into your life.
Making faces in the mirror, weight lifting with a jug of laundry detergent, sword fighting with dinner spoons, and releasing inhibitions will all help release some tension.
6. Change For You
It’s general to not like all the traits in one person. There are chances that someone in your life has certain traits which you aren’t fond of, and you hope that someday they’ll change themselves.
Let me pop the bubble it’s not gonna happen that way! If you don’t like something about someone, the best you can do is, tell them openly. But beyond that, you have no control over others and it’ll be an irrational act to force them to change.
7. Agree With Every Word You Say
Even the best of friends don’t agree on everything, so don’t get upset when people challenge what you say, or simply have a different opinion. The world would be quite boring if no one ever disagreed; our unique perspectives and beliefs allow the planet to keep evolving and moving toward better solutions.
Think about what would happen if we all agreed with continuing to use fossil fuels to power our cars, houses, and just about everything in our lives…we wouldn’t have solar panels and electric cars if no one challenged the mainstream!