An example of how expectations can negatively affect our lives is in relationships. We meet someone who 'looks' right and we find attractive and maybe spend a few hours talking to this person. Then, before we know it, we've given that person all sorts of characteristics and positive attributes that WE want them to have and our expectations of this mere human being becomes dangerously exaggerated. Of course the person in question is blissfully unaware of these exaggerated expectations, but if they feel the same way about us, they will have done exactly the same. How many people these days fall in love and get married, only to find that when they start to get to know the person on a day to day basis, they find it hard to accept their partner's habits or traits. Unfortunately, when this happens the image they had of this wonderful man/woman seen through rose-tinted glasses has already begun to fade.

Another example of false expectations is seeing only the good or bad in someone, when everyone has two sides to their personalities. Some people don't like to admit to a bad or shadow side and try to keep it hidden, but we all have traits that are less than attractive and to think otherwise will keep us unaware of our true selves and thus lead to disappointment and false expectations of ourselves and other people. This often leads to a breakdown in a relationship or marriage as both people become disillusioned with each other and the expectations they had for themselves.