I understand that it is essential for a dreamer to exude proper levels of expectation when attempting to control various elements of the dream; however, I'm now questioning the effectiveness of expectation.

Two examples:

1. I was in my room. It was very dark, and I could barely see anything. I lifted my hand into the air, confidently re-affirming myself that if I expect an orb of light to manifest in the palm of my hand, it would surely be so. Even still, nothing appeared. I tried again, doubling my concentration, but to no avail.

2. I've been trapped. In all my lucid dreaming journeys, I have not been able to leave my house in the dream world. But this time was different; I've recognized the negative emotions I've been giving this dilemma, and focused not on that, but how easily I would change the dream scene. As I had been rehearsing in my mind for days prior, I imagined a circle, and placed my index finger on the circle's 12 o'clock position. I slowly applied pressure, and, moving my finger in a clock-wise direction, made a portal. I felt satisfaction as a blue-ish hue replaced where my index finger had just travelled, until a full portal lie manifest before me. Confident and calm, I took a breath and stepped through the portal. The inside was magnificent. All around me, complex 2D and 3D figures I can't even begin to describe floated in a colorful vacuum. I walked, step by step, re-affirming myself that at the end of this tunnel lie a snowy wonderland with frozen trees for me to explore. I took the last step and, to my dismay, I was back at the front of my house.

In both of these examples, I made certain to maintain a high level of expectation of what was about to happen; however, both of my intentions failed.

Is expectation alone simply not effective to control the dream?