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Here's what you should never expect others to do

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to have high expectations of other people. Simply put, we expect people to think or act like us in a given situation, but wind up disappointed when it doesn't pan out.

This can lead us to put our thinking caps on and probe into the possible reasons why this individual failed to live up to our expectations. We can drive ourselves batty doing this!

I'm here to give you a tip you should always keep in mind -- one that will serve you well in life, whether you're dealing with your boss, friends, or partner:

Instead of expecting people to keep their word and come through for you all the time, expect them to let you down instead. 

That way, when they do deliver as promised, you'll be pleasantly promised. When they don't, well, it isn't like it'll catch you by surprise, right?

This is my own strategy for preemptively priming myself for the worst-case scenario. People who do this are what you'd call proactive.

You may be thinking that this approach reflects a certain level of cynicism. To be honest, I'm not at all cynical. But the bottom line is that I have had so many people let me down in life that I knew I had to find a way mentally prepare myself for the worst.

At the end of the day, people have vastly different personalities. Two people can view the same situation in disparate ways. People are unpredictable. A person can call himself your friend today and turn his back on you tomorrow.

That's why you should always expect the unexpected! 

Relying too much on other people is never a good idea. I'm not saying you should never trust another person, but even the most reliable of people can sometimes fall short of our expectations.

Therefore, do yourself a favor and reframe your thoughts. Readjust your expectations. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Sooner or later, someone will let you down. It's best to be prepared whenever that happens.

What do you think of this tactic? Do you find yourself putting too much trust in others and winding up disenchanted?

For previous entries, please click here: How to Understand People

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