Have you ever walked away from an interaction feeling disappointed, hurt, or let down? What if the problem isn't with the other person, but with the unrealistic expectations you've set? In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing a transformative exercise my therapist taught me five years ago that completely changed how I approach relationships.
The concept is deceptively simple: deliberately adjusting your expectations to match what people are actually capable of giving you. I walk you through exactly how I created a note in my phone documenting realistic expectations for specific relationships in my life—a note I still reference regularly. This isn't about lowering your standards or accepting poor treatment. Rather, it's about acknowledging the capacity each person has and protecting your emotional well-being by approaching interactions with clear eyes.
When your expectations align with reality, disappointment diminishes dramatically. Instead of feeling let down when someone behaves exactly as they always have, you can approach interactions with understanding. And when someone exceeds your expectations? That becomes a delightful surprise rather than the minimum standard. Through practical examples—from friends who rarely initiate contact to preteens seeking independence—I demonstrate how this mindfulness around expectations creates healthier dynamics and preserves your confidence.
This milestone 75th episode gets to the heart of what Confidently Beautiful is all about: practical tools for protecting your emotional health while maintaining loving connections. If you've ever felt caught in cycles of disappointment with certain relationships, this episode offers a gentle but powerful path forward. Share it with someone who might need this perspective, and let me know how managing expectations has worked in your own life by connecting with me on Instagram at confidently beautiful podcast.
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