Every once in a while haven’t we all struggled while learning how to meet people halfway? You might’ve heard your mom or another elder admit that marriage is never easy and requires sacrifices. That’s true for every relationship whether it’s a romantic or platonic one. No relationship is ever entirely perfect even if it might seem insta-perfect from afar. The only thing that helps your boat continue swimming is how invested you both are in giving each other the right amount of individual freedom. So;
Do you think you’re doing your part in a relationship?
or
Have you made enough sacrifices to have a positive take away in the end?
If you don’t find the answer to be satisfactory then my friend now’s the time to meet your partner halfway. Meeting someone halfway actually stands for making mutually agreed compromises. These compromises are meant to be a bit more agreeable and moderate. Consequently, both parties will find a small change easier to assimilate.
Define what you consider as “halfway”
Take a day off to reconsider some underlying issues with your partner. Here are a few things you can both ask each other for the purpose of defining a middle ground on both ends;
- What do you love about our relationship?
- What do you despise about our relationship?
- What kind of improvements do you think we should make?
- Any recent event where you felt I was undermining your choices?
Asking each other each of these questions will help you realize what’s been missing and what needs some improvement. Instead of having aimless, repetitive fights on the same topic, you can now adopt a mutually agreed strategy that works for both of you. It’s going to be an “optimized and improved” relationship where one significant other feels equally acknowledged as the other one. So, before take a deep nose dive stop and create certain boundaries. Creating these boundaries will actually save your compromises from turning toxic.
50/50 Is The Way It Goes
It’s highly unlikely that you and your partner will always enjoy the same activities or have the same set of opinions. So, both of you must remain open to the idea of trying new things at least once in a while. According to most divorce lawyers and couples therapists;
“One of the leading causes of the high divorce rate nowadays is a couple’s inability to manipulate situations that favour both of them”
If you want to learn how to meet your partner halfway then the art of listening has to be in the works. It’s not necessary for you to agree with their point of view but listening and skimming through their conversation might help you understand what suits both. Once you locate a “middle ground” you can mould any situation in a way that’s pleasant and agreeable for both of you. The bottom line is, it’s a “half and half sort of thing”. If both are able to make a positive change during the humdrums of everyday life then hopefully the results are going to be predominantly positive as well.
Know When To Involve Others
Sally wants a Georgian styled apartment makeover but Adam would rather have a post-modern decor. So, how can you adapt a mutually agreed strategy here? Now’s the time to involve someone who knows what you need. For instance; a professional interior designer can make a strategy that involves what you both like. So, certain elements of your apartment will reflect Adam’s eccentric taste and perhaps the furniture will be according to Sally’s traditional taste. Similarly, when such situations strike where you both fail to create a middle ground you can involve someone who knows you both or a couple’s therapist.
Switching Can Be Fun
If your wife’s more of a movie buff and you’re a theater enthusiast you can turn things around in a way that suits both. You can designate one weekend for your wife’s choice of activity aka watching a new movie. Meanwhile, the next weekend shall be saved for what you want which is, a good play in your nearest theater. In this manner, both of you would get a chance to spend time together while enjoying what you both love.
Moreover, if your partner loves bringing seasons during the night and the noise from the TV room seems to be too much for you, compromise is the key! You can sit down and decide on which days your partner can watch movies during the night. It’s evidently a small compromise that can help you solve a problem in a more practical manner.
This Tumultuous Journey Demands Patience
Make up your mind before placing your ideas in front of your partner. Ask yourself and your partner if you’re both actually prepared to make sacrifices or not because meeting someone else halfway requires quite a lot of patience. Usually, one person tends to break the commitment which forces the other individual to lash out at them. Verbally attacking your partner or taking revenge of any kind can further distance them from you or the idea of giving new solutions a shot. Furthermore, turning your relationship into a 50/50 commitment does require time.
You or your partner will take time to adapt to each other’s habits or bearing each other’s choices. Hence, patience is an essential ingredient for this particular recipe. There’s no need to undermine the opposite, even if you might not like taking things in that direction. This kind of actions might completely discourage them from trying the ideas you put forwards and they might also hold resentment against you for breaking a commitment you both had. So, try to remain consistent with your approach if you want to see results.
Final Words
Reaching a conclusion that’s halfway for you and your s/o can be quite amazing. It’s quite ideal when someone is willing to try new things for your best interests. But, don’t forget to look out for yourself. It’s essential to create certain boundaries to avoid any emotional trauma in the future. Lastly, don’t enforce “compromises” as they bring more harm than benefits and at the end of the day there should be two winners instead of two losers!
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