Poeticanchor_ash

It’s often said that expectations are the root of disappointment. But have we ever paused to truly ask — where do expectations come from?

The answer lies in something deeper: emotional connection.

Expectations don’t arise in isolation. They are not born from logic or necessity but from intimacy. We don’t expect from strangers. We expect from those we care about — those whose presence matters, whose words linger, and whose silence speaks louder than any noise.

When we form emotional bonds, even the smallest gestures — or the lack of them — start to hold weight. A delayed reply, a forgotten gesture, or a subtle shift in tone can suddenly feel overwhelming. It’s not the act itself that hurts, but the meaning we attach to it. It’s not about what is said, but the feeling we hope to find between the lines.

This is the quiet power of emotional attachment. It transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary — both in moments of joy and in moments of pain. When hearts are involved, silence can become deafening. Absence starts to feel like a burden. And simple words begin to carry a thousand unspoken emotions.

The truth is: expectations are often a reflection of love. They don’t stem from weakness or neediness, but from trust, vulnerability, and emotional investment. If you find yourself expecting — waiting, hoping, feeling — it’s because your heart is involved. It’s because love, in some form, exists.

But here lies the difficult reality:
Not everyone is capable of carrying the weight of our unspoken emotions. Not everyone understands the language of subtlety — of care quietly folded into gestures, of affection hidden in the unsaid. And often, this is where pain begins — when our depth meets someone else’s emotional absence.

So what can we do in the face of unmet expectations?

We can start by recognizing when those expectations begin to silently hurt more than they heal. We can remind ourselves that while our feelings are valid, so is self-preservation. Letting go of expectations doesn’t mean giving up on love — it can mean choosing inner peace over silent suffering.

Because love, in its truest form, should make us feel full, not forgotten.
Heard, not hollow.

And when that balance begins to fade —
it’s okay to step back, to breathe,
and to choose yourself again.

Ashwini Kulkarni

18/07/2025