Perspective is huge. In anything, the objective truth can easily be slanted by what our prior expectations were. Our perceptions shift how we view what should be a relatively binary achievement.
The New England Patriots are expected to make the Super Bowl every year. Anything less is viewed as a disappointment, when, in actuality, making the AFC Championship game is something that most teams could only dream of. Making the AFC Championship game is the same for Patriots or the New York Jets, but it would be viewed completely differently.
A lot of our perspectives stem from our expectations.