When it comes to dating and relationships, we have to know the difference between being realistic and settling. There’s a thin line between both and it’s easy to mistake one term over the other. You could think that you’re simply being realistic when all the while, you’ve been dating people who are lesser than you deserve.
Being Realistic While Dating Can Be Achieved With An Active Sense Of Awareness
It’s important to know the difference between being realistic and settling because you don’t want to waste your time with people that aren’t right for you. If you settle, it’s likely that the relationship will not work out because you aren’t in it for the correct reasons. For example, you could be dating a random person because you don’t want to feel lonely anymore. No, this is settling. Being realistic is something totally different:
1. Acceptance
You and your date accept each other for the real people that you are. You know that you’re settling when you see all of your potential partner’s short-comings, but you tell yourself that he or she will just change as you go through life together.
2. Respect
Respect is an important element in a relationship. If you don’t respect your partner or if your partner doesn’t respect you, then there’s no point in being together. Respect means that your partner considers how you feel, and he or she is always ready to lift you up.
3. Compromise
There are a lot of people who mistake settling for compromising. They have a totally different meaning. When you settle, your happiness is at stake. However, if you compromise in your relationship, the goal behind it is to maintain a sense of balance that can benefit both parties.
4. Good Times
Experts say that a couple’s relationship is fine if they have five positive interactions for every one negative interaction. If your ratio is totally off, like if you have negative interactions most of the time, then you are definitely settling.
If you identify all of these elements in your relationship or while you are dating, then you’re being realistic. Don’t worry because you are grounded. And, this can lead your relationship to the next level because the next steps you’ll take will still be grounded in reality. For more relationship tips, read other posts on the blog.