An expectation is what you believe will happen or what you think should happen. When you have an expectation that your friend will show up to your birthday party, you're counting on them to be there. When your teacher sets expectations for behavior in class, she's telling you what she thinks you should do.

Expectations shape how we feel about what actually happens. If you expect to score well on a test because you studied hard, getting a good grade feels satisfying but not surprising. But if you expect to struggle and then ace it, you feel thrilled. If you expect an easy win but barely pass, disappointment creeps in even though you passed.

People form expectations based on past experience, promises, or patterns they notice. Your parents might have high expectations for your effort in school because they've seen you work hard before. A coach might have reasonable expectations about how much a team can improve in one season.

Sometimes expectations turn out wrong. You might expect rain and get sunshine, or expect an exciting movie and find it boring. Learning to adjust your expectations helps you stay flexible when reality surprises you. The challenge isn't to stop having expectations, but to hold them lightly enough that you can handle it when life takes a different turn.