This phrase helps clarify your feelings by acknowledging that your upset is tied to an unmet expectation. It invites a conversation about what you expected, helping the other person understand your perspective. It also signals a willingness to discuss and reflect on whether those expectations were realistic or not.

💬 “I’m upset because I expected something different from this situation. Can we talk about it?”
💬 “I realize I was expecting [something], and when that didn’t happen, it upset me.”
💬 “I had an expectation that didn’t pan out, and it’s been bothering me.”
💬 “I feel hurt because I was hoping for [outcome], and it didn’t go that way.”
💬 “I realize now that I expected [something], and it’s affecting me.”

🎯 Timing matters here: Make sure you’re in a space to calmly share what you were expecting and whether it was realistic. This sets up a conversation that’s not about blame, but about understanding where things went off-track and how to manage expectations going forward.