10 Expectations to Let Go of for Personal Growth

Discover the things you need to stop expecting from others so you can have more successful, happier relationships with people!

Expectations set up an attachment to specific outcomes, leaving little room for fresh possibilities.

However, there are ways you can save yourself from the disappointments that arise from undue expectations.

Consider what would happen if you stop expecting things and focus on all the positives that arrive in your life.

As we all know, we cannot control everything and make everyone behave according to our wishes, but we can let go of attachment to control results.

“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.” — Stephen Hawking

Below are 10 things you need to stop expecting from others in order to be happier!

Let us know what expectations you’ve let go of in the comment section.

1. Stop Expecting Validation

Don’t expect other people to validate your worth.

Your value lies within yourself.

Other people are tuned in to their lives, busy projecting their needs and wants onto the world around them.

They aren’t emotionally or mentally available to confirm your worth.

What they say and do with you reflects their expectations and is not to be confused with yours.

2. Praise and Appreciation

You may receive praise—or not.

Learning that you can’t depend upon validation from others is an important life skill.

If you do good things, expecting others to acknowledge them, you set yourself up for disappointment.

Don’t do something to earn people’s gratitude; 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.

3. Motivation

No one else can be your full-time cheerleader.

A friend can occasionally help pick you up when you are down, but they can’t force you to enjoy life.

It’s up to you to set goals and take action to reach them.

Stop expecting someone else to do the dirty work for you.

Goals needn’t be dramatic, but they must move you toward something you value.

Sitting around waiting for motivation to strike you is a losing battle.

Find something—anything—to move you off your bum.

Get into motion.

Start your blood flowing, engage your mind in something outside of yourself, and feel the momentum build.

4. Understanding

No one has had your upbringing, has walked in your shoes, or lived your life.

Experiences that formed your current view of life differ totally from those of everyone walking this earth.

So don’t expect someone else to “get” who you are deep inside.

Some will relate closely; others won’t know what you are talking about.

Maybe it’s time to let go of insisting others think the way you do.

Allow them to have their own perspective based on their own unique experiences.

5. Stop Expecting Optimism

Only you can find the possibilities in your day, relationships, or life.

Sadly, the average person is looking for what is wrong so they can fix it and then feel happy.

Just listen to the surrounding conversation; you’ll find many complaining and blaming.

It’s your choice to take part in that.

Instead, try to blaze your own trail by focusing on what can go right instead of what is wrong.

6. Fulfillment

Trying to find someone else to fulfill your life is an endless chase.

Quit expecting to meet that one person who can meet all of your criteria.

One clear definition of the word “fulfillment” states: “satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one’s abilities or character.”

That’s it.

Once you find fulfillment in your own life, you are ready to connect with others in a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship.

Get right with yourself before others can get right with you.

7. Stop Expecting Joy

Others can temporarily prime your happy factor but can’t force it on you.

Be open to realizing that joy is shining into your daily life.

Joy comes from seeing the good things that are already in your life, small and large.

A man held in an Afghan prison lived in a cramped cell with a grey concrete floor and metal bed.

Only a small window at the top of the outside wall let in a narrow beam of light in the morning.

He eagerly expected that light and every day gave thanks for its presence.

One cold autumn day, as he shivered on the damp floor, a bright red leaf blew in and landed in front of him.

He carefully picked it up and hid it, knowing his captors would take even that one small joy from him.

He pulled it out daily just to look at it.

Over time, it faded to a deep rust color, but it still brought the only color to his world.

Then one day, he found a piece of bright blue thread in the corner under his bed and hid it away.

These three joys—a beam of morning sunshine, a dried leaf, and a thread—helped maintain his sanity for three years.

He eventually escaped and fled to freedom.

Hearing this, I realize I live in a cauldron of joy—but only if I look for it.

8. 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.

These moments are at their best when shared 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, lifting weights with a laundry detergent jug, sword fighting with dinner spoons, and releasing inhibitions will all help release some tension.

No one else is required for me to make a complete fool of myself, and it sure feels good sometimes.

I appreciate people being appropriate in society, but let’s give ourselves a break!

9. Solutions

We all have problems.

Others can help us sort through potential solutions, but if the problem is in our life, it’s one we helped to create.

It’s up to us to resolve what we instigated.

Think about it—has anyone’s suggested solution to your problems set right with you?

We usually find others’ recommendations miss the mark.

Only people with a victim mentality expect others to come to their rescue.

Victors review options, take action and adjust as needed.

10. Stop Expecting Judgement

If we grow up with negative feedback, we expect judgment from others.

When someone comments, we look for a hidden meaning behind their words.

We believe everyone has a hidden agenda.

Everything other people do is suspect.

If someone looks at us funny, we wonder if we have spinach in our teeth when maybe they think our haircut looks outstanding.

If we receive a compliment, we puzzle over what that person wants.

We become people who look for negative feedback, finding it everywhere.

Oprah Winfrey conducted an experiment where beautiful women were given fake scars on their faces to see how people responded to them as they walked down a city street.

Unbeknownst to the women, the fake scars were removed during a “final check” of their fake makeup.

They went out with their usual beautiful faces, but upon returning, reported people looked at them with judgment, made fun of them, and pointed at them as they walked down the street.

What they expected from others was how they interpreted their experience… and their interpretation was totally incorrect.

Maybe it’s time to stop expecting from others and take charge of your life.

Are you carrying around past mistakes that you need to forgive yourself for?

What old self-image messages have you received from others that are now ring false?

Are there changes you want to make?

Where do you want to improve?

Take your life in hand and make it happen.

It’s your life.

Lead it.

What will you stop expecting from others?

Tell us in the comment section below.