How to Stop Letting Unmet Expectations Ruin Your Day

I used to be a professional at being disappointed.

It was a cycle I knew well. I’d write a script in my head for how a day, a project, or even a person should behave. When they inevitably missed their cues, I felt completely powerless.

That powerlessness turned into resentment, and eventually, it soured into a cold, hard anger.

I was judging everyone—including myself—for a "lack" that I’d actually created.

I finally realized that I was the one holding the pen. I was the one writing the scripts that were making me miserable.

If you’re tired of the crushing weight of unmet expectations, it’s time to start managing expectations with a bit more grace.

Trading Powerlessness for Choice

Building emotional resilience isn't about lowering your standards; it’s about changing how you measure success. I’ve learned that I can choose it all.

Here’s how I’m shifting my own growth mindset to stay in the driver’s seat:

• Expect a feeling, not an action. Instead of demanding a specific outcome I can't control, I set an expectation for how I want to feel. I can control my own peace, but I can’t always control when a client signs a contract.
• Use data, not drama. When things go sideways, I don't treat it as a moral failure. It’s just data. It’s a signal to shift and pivot, not a reason to go into a shame spiral.
• Drop the script. I’m letting other people off the hook. They aren't failing me; they’re just living their lives. When I stop expecting them to follow my unwritten rules, I stop being angry at them for being human.
• Loosen the grip. I’ve started staying open to the idea that the "mess" might actually be better than the original plan.

Making the Pivot

It’s about making small shifts to create the experience you actually want, rather than just reacting to the one you’re afraid of. It takes practice to stop judging and start pivoting, but I promise it’s a much lighter way to live.

If you want to dive deeper into these shifts, I’m hosting quarterly Next-Level Mindset workshops in 2026. We’ll work on these daily habits together so you can build the life experiences you truly want.

You can grab your All-Access Pass right here until February 28, 2026: [Link to All-Access Pass]