• Nationwide
  • Toronto
  • Vancouver
  • Calgary
  • Montreal
  • Los Angeles
  • Chicago
  • NYC
Eligible Magazine
  • Dating
    • Editor’s Dating Notes
    • Better Dating Ideas
    • “The Bachelor” Advice
    • Guy Talk
    • Girl Talk
  • Relationships
  • Sex
  • Events
  • Fashion
    • Men’s Style
    • Women’s Style
  • Lifestyle
    • Gossip
    • Wine & Dine
    • Luxurious Living
    • Entertainment
    • Destinations
  • Wellness
    • Men’s Fitness
    • Women’s Fitness
    • Get Inspired
    • Doctor’s Orders
    • A Better YOU
    • Beauty
  • Bachelor & Bachelorette
  • Cities
    • Nationwide
    • Toronto
    • Vancouver
    • Calgary
    • Montreal
    • Los Angeles
    • Chicago
    • NYC
A Better YOU 0

Do Expectations Control Our Happiness?

By Nicole McCance @nicole_mccance · On July 28, 2013

When our emotions fluctuate throughout the day, it is often as a result of a circumstance not meeting our expectation. For example, think of the last time you were all prepared and on time, waiting for a friend/co-worker but they are late. Your expectation was that you both will meet at the agreed upon time, but the circumstance (that the other person is late) has changed, and in turn, your emotional state is altered. How do you feel when this happens? Annoyed? Frustrated?

The same can be said of traffic. In the morning commute, you expect traffic and are used to it. Your expectations are met, and despite the annoyance of traffic, you are emotionally prepared for it. However, you may go out on your lunch break for an appointment, and assume you can be back quickly because there should not be any traffic at that time. If you get caught in traffic at this time, your expectation is not met, and your emotional state changes again, perhaps to anger, frustration, and annoyance. Yet, the circumstance, which is traffic, has not changed at all. Your expectations have.

I’d like you to think about your expectations… of yourself…of others…of your life. The good news is, we can change our expectations at any time.

I encourage you to monitor your expectations. While they do help you plan out your day for the most part, if you become too attached to them, your emotional state will always be full of extreme ups and downs. Your expectations can really take over, and can sometimes prevent you from noticing the good. If you expect that a family member or co-worker will always be negative or annoying, you probably won’t notice any other trait in that person.

Try to strike a balance. Monitor what you expect from others and from your day. It is better to be pleasantly surprised than always disappointed.

Share Tweet

Nicole McCance

Nominated, RBC Women Entrepreneur of the Year, Nicole McCance M.A. is a fully licensed Psychological Associate. Her services are covered under extended health care and she is licensed to diagnose mental disorders. Nicole is also an author of the best-selling book 52 Ways to Beat Depression Naturally. She has over 9 years of formal university education and has completed a certificate program in trauma and recovery from Harvard Medical School. She has a M.A in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto, a B.A. in Criminology and a B.A with Honours in Psychology from Carleton University. Nicole owns Nicole McCance Psychology, which has over 10 counselling locations providing both individual and couples counselling across the GTA. Over 120 individuals and couples receive counselling every month through Nicole McCance Psychology. She has been providing counselling and assessment services for the past 10 years across North America and in Russia. She has been a frequent contributor to media outlets such as CP24, CTV News, CTV National, Global TV,City TV, CBC News, Rogers, CBC Radio, ABC Spark, E!, the Toronto Star and Canadian Living. You can visit her website at nicolemccance.com.

You Might Also Like

  • Vancouver-most-eligible-bachelorette Bachelor & Bachelorette

    Vancouver’s Most Eligible Bachelorette

  • IMG_7015 Beauty

    Skin Care Tips From The Ex-Pimple Queen

  • Better Dating Ideas

    Better Dating Ideas Chicago: January 1st – 4th

More from this author

  • A Better YOU

    Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse

  • Get Inspired

    Feel Good Tip #2

  • A Better YOU

    Teamwork In Relationships

No Comments

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Search

Subscribe & Follow

Follow @EligibleZine
Follow on Instagram
Eligible Magazine Pheed
Follow eligiblezine

Find us on Facebook

Eligible TV

Twitter: eligiblezine

  • There really is no place like home especially when our beaches are this beautiful we got together the best beaches… https://t.co/hiMFCfYUoO 04:00:23 PM July 12, 2019 from Hootsuite Inc.
  • RT @EligibleZine: As time goes, on nature takes its course. An aging parent is hard enough to handle, let alone while keeping your relation… 11:43:50 AM July 12, 2019 from Twitter for iPhone
  • Comfort is great when it comes to beds, couches and clothes but for your life it can be limiting to your best poten… https://t.co/Le9uIQq6pg 10:45:15 AM July 08, 2019 from Hootsuite Inc.

Eligible Poll

Eligible Magazine now available on iPad, iPhone and smartphone

  • Contributors

About

Eligible Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for urban men and women who want the best from their dating life, their relationships and themselves. It features articles and video content on dating, relationships, sex, wellness and lifestyle by some of the country's foremost experts. The magazine is available online, for sale on Apple's Newsstand for your iPad or iPhone and soon to be in print.

Recent Posts

  • Two Iconic Toronto Lifestyle Brands Unite

  • motionball 2022

    Motionball 2022 – Why You Should Mark Your Calendar

  • Why A Staycation Is Perfect For Your Next Date Night

  • Perfume for Women: What’s the Difference?

Contact

Contact Eligible Magazine
Work for Eligible Magazine
Advertise with Eligible Magazine
Write for Eligible Magazine
Unsubscribe
Privacy Policy

Search

© 2013 Eligible Magazine. All rights reserved.
  • Sitemap
  • Help
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright
  • Privacy & Cookie Policy
  • Advertising
  • Announcements
Eligible Magazine
Eligible Magazine on Apple App Store