Remember, you can’t spell "realistic" without "real."

Expectations play a crazy role in our lives.

Take a look, for example, at the to-do list you compose (physically or mentally) at the start of your workday. When 5 or 6 o'clock rolls around and you’ve scrolled through it (or replayed it in your head), do you feel disappointed or productive? Chances are the answer depends on the list’s contents. That means you've tied your day's success or failure at least as much to your expectations (the list) as to your actual accomplishments (your reality). Interesting, isn't it?

One of the biggest challenges you face, and one of the most valuables roles you can play as a physical therapist (PT) or physical therapist assistant (PTA) who's looking to integrate wellness services into your clinic's offerings, lies in how you help patients and clients set realistic expectations.