“It’s not always rainbows and butterflies, it’s compromise that moves us along.” – Maroon 5
Most of us are at the age where we know better than to attempt to change someone. The older you get, the more stubborn you become. That’s true for even the most flexible individuals. Plus, why would you want to change someone anyway? It’s best to love them for who they are flaws and all.
This article isn’t about change. It isn’t meant to serve as a blueprint for the, “I ain’t changing for nobody” single girls/guys committee that celebrates being stubborn and relentlessly set in their ways. It’s simply to call attention to one key factor that many overlook when entering into a new relationship, and that’s compromise.
We hear the word and even practice it regularly in everyday life, but the need to compromise in a new relationship has a way of showing up in the damndest of ways. It doesn’t come months down the line. It happens the minute you say, “Let’s do this” and make it official. Your tests won’t necessarily show up during a conversation on how someone should dress. It also won’t be as drastic as having to decide if you will move across the country. The need for mutual concession often wears the disguise of a slight argument about whether or not the dog should sleep in your bed, or if you should do the dishes while cooking a meal or after.
Compromise actually reveals its presence in the pettiest of ways, but if you choose to ignore the small tweaks that will undoubtedly be required for your relationship to sustain, it could mean big trouble for your union.
The attempt to mesh your life with another person can be quite challenging. If you’ve been single for YEARS, chances are you’ve developed a few habits that work for you. The same goes for your other half.
But there is very little room for what works for you in a relationship. You have to think about what works for us. Here are three tips to make the transition from single to taken easier.
1) Realize what being in a relationship actually means.
Hell you’re in a relationship so ideally, you’ve vetted him or her before making the decision to be together. Being in a committed relationship is more than a changed Facebook status or the occasional dope date. You are actually signing up to live–and hopefully build with someone– and the call to compromise often takes place way before you say, “I do.” Whenever you commit to a long-term relationship, you are essentially planning to co-exist with another human being who has lived a whole life without you. It is a huge, yet subtle adjustment that can be downright exhausting. Acknowledge the frustration, but be patient as you learn and adapt to each other’s ways.
2) Know what you’re willing to give.
You know what is just as important as compromising in a relationship? Knowing how much to do so. If we’re being completely legit here, we do not want to compromise. Ideally, we’d want someone who fits into our world just how it is. Human beings are selfish like that. If you love pets, it’s best not to date someone who does not like animals or at the very minimum, doesn’t understand your relationship with your Labradoodle. Why? Because when “Shaky” passes on, you’re basically agreeing to a life with no more pets. It’s also probably not a good idea to get with a night owl if you know you like to be in bed at 8pm, unless you’re willing to forgo those few hours of sleep or rest in a separate room. So when you do give in, it is best to make sure that you are OK with what it is that you are agreeing to.
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