Should we never compromise? Sure, some people are unhappy because they’ve compromised at every turn, so they can’t forgive themselves. They could have ventured, but they acted weakly. In their own eyes, they failed and lost their own self-respect.
Compromise is a delicate balance between ego and reality. When the ego doesn’t want to compromise, that can be bad, but sometimes, you shouldn’t have to compromise, and that’s bad, too. We shouldn’t settle for less, but what do we have to lose in other cases? The key is to compromise intelligently. You don’t want to be left with nothing. Regardless, we should live life as fully as possible.
Now, we shouldn’t take extremes when either—it’s not an all-or-nothing world we live in. That’s where compromise comes in. It’s not an ugly word—it means giving a portion and sometimes takes courage. It also takes courage NOT to compromise to preserve your dignity, joy, integrity, and individuality. Not compromising can keep you grounded and provide a sense of center to live authentically.
If you aren’t willing to accept the results of a compromise or it involves matters of basic human dignity and respect, compromise is not prudent. Also, don’t compromise with people who want to harm you and your interests. On the other hand, compromise can resolve disagreements and conflict and help find fairer solutions to problems and disagreements.
If compromise causes you suffering, you aren’t compromising; you’re settling. Compromise is the only way to find true joy. Never compromising is extreme; if your happiness comes at the cost of other people, that’s a very selfish choice. Further, if you never compromise, you’re only settling for perfect. But perfect doesn’t exist; therefore, you will never move forward.
Everyone has to compromise, but ensure you understand what each compromise means. Life is an endless series of compromises. Everything exists at the expense of something else… there’s no getting around it. Pick your battles. Compromise morals, principles, or ethics? No, don’t compromise yourself by pushing down that inner voice. Compromise on pizza toppings by getting half and half? Why not?
Here are others you should never compromise:
What you want out of life. What are your goals? What are your dreams? They are up to you and not somebody else. It’s not up to anybody to dictate or decide where you go or what you do in life. It’s your life, and men often compromise what they want out of life. Then, one day, they realize they’ve been living for everyone else.
Who you love. Don’t listen to the media, your parents, or anybody else. Listen to your heart. What does your heart say? It’s nobody else’s damn business who you sleep with or where you stick your dick. Don’t allow somebody else to tell you or shame you into thinking it’s wrong or immoral. It’s nobody’s business what you do or who you do it with as long as it’s not illegal.
Your morals. Every one of us has a moral compass where we know right from wrong. If you’re around people forcing you to choose between what you know is right and what you feel is wrong, you need to get away from those people. These types of people will continue to make you compromise your morals, which can permanently damage your soul with how you feel about yourself. Never compromise your integrity.
Your health. Whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, you should never have somebody in your life who makes you feel bad about yourself, puts you down, makes you feel insignificant, or makes you feel dumb. Also, get away from them if you feel worse after being with them. Unfortunately, some of these people are family members. Still, you must protect yourself, so spend less time with them or have those hard conversations. You can also try therapy.
Your style and grooming. Don’t allow a woman in your life to pick out your clothes. Women have zero clue about men’s styles and are too worried about themselves. Style and grooming are your jobs and responsibilities. A lot of men let themselves go and get sloppy. They allow their hair to get crazy. And they don’t smell good — don’t powder their nuts or wear an effective deodorant. They also don’t wear a fragrance that speaks to them.
Your beliefs and faith. If your beliefs or religions don’t mesh, you may be copasetic now, but adding a child into the mix complicates matters. Make sure you are aligned and not just doing what she wants.
Your self-esteem. Do not ever compromise your belief or your confidence in yourself. Run away if anyone in your life is causing you to doubt yourself. If somebody in your life is not giving you anything in return, you need to readjust and reevaluate. You may need to get away from them, which can be challenging as we often become codependent with these people, and they know they can take advantage of us.
Follow your dreams and path, and listen to your inner voice. If you’re not feeling good about yourself, do what you need to do to get there. You often feel bad or are not inspired because you compromised something core or fundamental to who you are as a man or an individual. When you stop compromising, you’ll open your eyes and realize you are the only one who matters. You have one shot in this life, and there’s only one person you truly need to make happy…. you.
