Pakistan, Aug. 6 -- Expectations are part of life. We expect people to treat us well, to care for us, to show up when we need them. But too often, these expectations bring pain. Why? Because people may not act the way we hoped, and we end up feeling hurt, let down, or even alone.

That's why one of the most powerful lessons we can learn, at any stage of life, is to stop expecting others to always be our anchor. Yes, we all long for someone to understand us, to stand by our side, to lift us when we fall. But sometimes, without meaning to, we expect too much. We forget that the people we count on also carry burdens we cannot see. They may be silently fighting their own battles, trying to stay afloat in their own storms. When they can't meet...