Seriously though, do not ever lower your expectations for somebody else merely so that individual can meet them. It is so frustrating, to watch somebody that you care about lack the ability to meet certain criteria of standards, specifically high standards. You want, with all of your heart, for that person to meet those high expectations, just do all of those things that would keep you consistently content and satisfied; yet, for some unknown reason, they always fall through. Always.
What do you do?
I can tell you what you don't do, and that is: do not lower your expectations for somebody just so they are able to catch up and meet them.
This sounds selfish and unwilling to compromise, or perhaps even controlling in the sense that somebody can only be accepted if they have the credentials to meet your high standards. However, do not allow yourself to change, or at least pretend to change, what exactly it is that will make you feel comfortable and content. If somebody is not meeting your expectations, then move on from them; it's perfectly okay to do so.
Maybe not right away and only after you have given yourself ample time to work through the situations, but if you ever feel like somebody is not meeting your expectations, and you have voiced this opinion and attempted to change the outcome, then moving on is the only other alternative.
It is difficult to realize that you cannot control people. If somebody is not acting in accordance with how you wish they would act, then there is nothing you can do about that. If you are having a challenge accepting those realities, then give yourself the gift of peace and remove the issue from your life.
If you cannot come to terms with completely removing the issue from your life, then you need to learn to accept that people are going to be a certain way. This is just reality. Still refrain from lowering your expectations for these people; instead, shift your mindset to become more accepting of the situation at hand. Perhaps try to learn from the feelings that you are experiencing. However, when your situation becomes too difficult to bare for your personal wellbeing and mental clarity, then you know that it is time to take action to make some changes. It may or may not be easy; yet, this will be another experience to learn from.
Moreover, as people lack the ability to meet your expectations, this introduces the question of determining whether you are meeting the expectations of those who are important to you. In other words, be sure to take some time to also examine the magnitude and quality of your actions in the world, the life choices that you pursue and your interactions with others.
How can you be so quick to judge and feel let down by others until you can ensure that you are holding yourself to equivalently high standards and the same level of accountability?
