If I never had any expectations I would never need to practice acceptance. As long as I get my way I have nothing to accept because life is just fine, thank you very much. It's only when my expectations go unmet do I need acceptance.
My problem is that I seem to be a writhing mass of expectations. I have expectations about just about everything. How my wife and everyone else who comes close to me in the world should treat me, how everyone else should drive, how people should share in AA meetings.. the list goes on and on. And of course the more "reasonable" my expectation is to me, the more upset I get when it isn't met.
My first sponsor told me something that sounds so simple. He said, "Jeff, sometimes you should not expect to get your way." Huh? How the heck can someone who is self centered in the extreme not expect to get his own way every time in all conditions? I've been working on this one for almost ten years and I have to admit I've had very little success.
I have found a little exercise that helps me with my expectations.
Think about an expectation you have. ("My wife will be ready to leave on time for our dinner tonight") Hold out your hand palm up. Visualize a small white feather in the center of your palm. Visualize that this feather is your expectation. Now blow it off your palm and watch it float away.
It works for me.