We all know the famous saying of 'love hurts'. We hear it in songs, and we see it in movies. We have been thinking that loving someone means getting hurt, but it is very important to understand that true love does not hurt. Expectation hurts, rejection hurts, and losing someone hurts, but love doesn't hurt.
Let's talk about the role of expectations in our relationships.
William Shakespeare once said, "Expectation is the root of all heartache."
When you're getting into a relationship, the first thing that you do is you set up expectations. You expect that one person to be an all-rounder. But when they fail to do anything, you get disappointed. Again, expectations hurt.
So what to do if your expectations are not met?
The solution is, not to change your expectations in love. Yes. Don't change your perspectives and views on your love life, instead have healthy expectations on your partner that enable you trust your partner and allows for intimate connection. When your expectations aren't met, you can communicate with your partner about what is and isn't working, to see if your relationship has the potential to move further.
Here’s how to deal and overcome unrealistic expectations in relationships.
1. Know what is realistic and what isn’t. There are a number of unrealistic expectations that you put on your partner and your relationship, and these expectations seriously damage your long-term happiness. If you want to manage your expectations, you need to do be honest. Don’t expect your partner to correct all the time. Be an independent person and strive for an equal relationship.
2. Love and understand your partner: When you’re in a relationship with someone, you have to love them unconditionally, flaws included. You can’t make people change for you or hope that they’ll show you they care for you by doing anything. You just have to understand and embrace those feelings for as long as they’re there and run with it.
3. Clearly express your expectations: Sharing your expectations allows you to define a mutual vision of how you want your future to be. When you express your views and expectations, your partner gets the opportunity to decide if he or she can satisfy your needs.
To conclude, setting unrealistic expectations on your love life can only lead to frustration and disappointment. You have to remember no one is perfect and everyone has faults. It is great to set goals in your relationship but let's make sure these are realistic goals.