Settling

"Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable." Franz Kafka

It seems that our greatest strengths can also be our greatest weaknesses. If you have a profound sense of gratitude about your life, if you find joy in even the smallest things, you will undoubtedly be a happy person. But the other side of that coin is that you may be a little too willing to settle. In human relationships, we tend to get what we tolerate. We accept a few crumbs here and there, when we deserve the whole cake. I think it's a mistake to be so thankful for the little things, that you don't demand the big things, the things that really matter.

A healthy sense of self gives you a balance. You put a lot into your relationships with those closest to you, and you expect a lot from them, too. You are more than willing to work out some compromises, but there are a few things that are simply non-negotiable. If I don't respect myself, how can I expect other people to respect me?

Susan