What did you expect?

Expectations are a primary filter. Our emotions are (among other things) an interpretation of an event and our expectations of what that event will or should or might be.

For example. A small baby messes itself all the time. Nobody gets upset. But if a 10 year old does it, we do get upset. Same mess. Different expectations.

So when things upset you, you might say to yourself, what did you expect?

But ask that of yourself quite seriously and then ask yourself if your expectations were / are realistic? How do you know? (Are those your private preserve or have you smoothly incorporated cultural expectations? Watching a lot of TV lately? )