When the World Leaves You Behind

Expectations ruin everything.

We expect people to love us the way we love them. We expect our friends to never betray us. We expect people to understand us without us having to explain. But expectations are nothing but silent disappointments waiting to happen.

The truth is, nobody owes you anything. That sounds harsh, but it's the reality. Just because you would do something for someone doesn't mean they would do it for you. Just because you have a kind heart doesn't mean others will treat you with kindness.

The problem isn't that people disappoint us. The problem is that we expect too much. We expect people to be loyal. We expect them to care. We expect them to stick around. And when they don't? It destroys us.

But here's the thing—you need to learn to give without expecting anything in return. Love without expecting to be loved back. Be kind because that's who you are, not because you want something in exchange. The moment you let go of expectations, you'll stop getting hurt so easily.

That doesn't mean you should let people walk all over you. Have standards, not expectations. A standard is knowing what you will and won't tolerate. An expectation is assuming people will never let you down. And the truth is, at some point, they will.

So instead of expecting, start accepting. Accept that people are flawed. Accept that sometimes they'll disappoint you. And most importantly, accept that you have the power to walk away when they do.