It's All About Me - The Importance of Compromise

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Do you struggle with compromising in your relationship? Making compromises can be very challenging; it's not always easy to establish a middle ground between you and your partner's wishes and to create a win/win situation for both of you.

Regardless of how close you and your partner are you, are bound to experience differences of opinion which will lead to disagreements. Your mutual ability to compromise is a crucial factor in being able to bridge these differences.

For many couples compromising relates to a perceived power struggle in the relationship; partners often think of compromising as giving in to their partner's demands and giving up on their own wishes.  You may want to reflect on how you witnessed your parents' ability to compromise and what you have learned about compromising as a concept. Frequently, knowing how to compromise has not been learned.

Compromising entails trying to understand why your partner's position is so important.  Thinking your way into your partner's shoes and having an empathic stance helps you to go some way into meeting your partner's needs while not necessarily giving up on your own. Compromising does not entail giving up on your values.

Ideally both partners need to step into the direction of the other; you are not giving in or giving up but are open to finding a way forward that is acceptable or even pleasurable to both of you.

Conflict resolution often demands finding compromises where the solution may entail finding a 'third way': not 'your way' or 'my way' but 'our way', a co-created way forward.

The Relationship Maze courses:
What is your argument style? Find out in our short quiz. You can find a link on our website: https://therelationshipmaze.com.

Struggling with a lot of conflict and arguments in your relationship? Learn about communicating effectively and addressing common relationship problems in our Stop Arguing, Start Loving mini course:  https://therelationshipmaze.com/relationshipconflictvsl2.

Learn everything you always wanted to know about building and maintaining  loving relationships in our comprehensive course The Relationship Maze, starting with understanding yourself in relationships to understanding your partner and understanding what makes for a successful relationship.

We look at common causes of relationship problems and offer solutions. Learn how to address relationship problems and questions without breaking up.

Contact us for information about individual counselling/psychotherapy, couples therapy, clinical supervision or CPD training.
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Struggling with a lot of conflict and arguments in your relationship? Learn about communicating effectively and addressing common relationship problems in our Stop Arguing, Start Loving mini course.

Learn everything you always wanted to know about building and maintaining loving relationships in our comprehensive course The Relationship Maze, starting with understanding yourself in relationships to understanding your partner and understanding what makes for a successful relationship. We look at common causes of relationship problems and offer solutions. Learn how to address relationship problems and questions without breaking up.