How do you know if you have a valid expectation for your spouse? Here is the nugget for you; expectations are only valid when they are agreed upon by both you and your spouse. Without having agreed upon expectations all you can do is assume that your spouse is going to comply. Assumptions ruin relationships because they’re invalid expectations.
The problem that we get into with relationships is when we become presumptuous. This is when we expect people to do something that they didn’t agree to do. Maybe they did it once and now we expect it all the time. Maybe because of our relationship we just expect them to do it. “You’re my spouse, you’re supposed to do that!” Oh really? Show me the chapter and the page number in the family manual. Presumption is simply selfish, unconfirmed expectation and it destroys relationships. This is why ongoing communication is important so that mutual expectations can be set and problems can be avoided.
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