| Life’s Compromises & Trade-offs: How to Stay True to Yourself by Ginny Williams |
Vanilla or chocolate? Paper or plastic? You may face little choices like these every day, most of which do not have any long-term impact on your life. But have you
ever struggled with a decision to change jobs or careers? Had a serious disagreement with a friend or partner? Agonized over whether to end a relationship?
Then you know that some situations can alter the direction of your life. How do you move beyond the dilemma while feeling complete and at peace with the
outcome? How do you know when to compromise while staying true to yourself?
Our family, friends and partners are lifelong teachers on the art of compromising. It’s likely that you have surrounded yourself with people who you share common
interests and viewpoints. But when your needs, goals, values or opinions are out of sync with someone you care about, the conflict it creates can be especially
painful no matter how much you love them.
When you find yourself stuck in conflict with someone you care about, weigh the value of keeping harmony in the relationship. As the saying goes, would you
rather be right or would you rather be happy? Is this issue really worth the hurt feelings you are both experiencing?
There is a different between acceptance and agreement. You may disagree with how a close friend feels about politics or religion, but you can still accept your
friend for the qualities that connect you, instead of focusing on your differences. Take a cue from diplomats and find common ground, then release any
attachment to needing to be right.
Compromises aren’t the only situation that will challenge your values. Decisions that affect the direction of your life can create powerful internal conflicts. You
meet someone wonderful, but he or she lives across the country. You get two nearly identical job offers and can’t decide which one to accept.
Having to choose can be paralyzing if you are afraid of making the wrong decision. Choosing one path over another may feel like you are losing or giving up
something, but remember that life is constantly seeking to keep us in balance. When you give up something, the space is created for something new and better
to take its place.
Some tips for staying true to yourself
1. Practice using your intuition for less important decisions. By getting used to the mental and emotional process you use when weighing your choices, you will
be able to trust your intuition when you are faced with a more far-reaching situation.
2. Stay in touch with your values and viewpoints. Keep a list of the people, interests and activities that you’re drawn towards. Notice what issues in the news
trigger your passion.
3. Don’t give up your power just because you want to keep the peace. If you feel like you are being pressured or bullied into make a choice that isn’t right for you,
walk away.
Life would be easy if we never had to face a difficult decision or resolve a conflict. But a life without compromises or trade-offs would also mean a life without
choices, opportunities and relationships. Remember, you can have it all; you just can’t have it all at once!
Ginny Williams is a professional life coach based out of Plum Island, MA. She has helped her clients start and manage their own successful businesses,
transition into rewarding careers, and make positive changes towards more fulfilling lives. Ginny can be reached at
(978) 462-2334, e-mail Ginny@CoachGinny.com or at www.coachginny.com.
ever struggled with a decision to change jobs or careers? Had a serious disagreement with a friend or partner? Agonized over whether to end a relationship?
Then you know that some situations can alter the direction of your life. How do you move beyond the dilemma while feeling complete and at peace with the
outcome? How do you know when to compromise while staying true to yourself?
Our family, friends and partners are lifelong teachers on the art of compromising. It’s likely that you have surrounded yourself with people who you share common
interests and viewpoints. But when your needs, goals, values or opinions are out of sync with someone you care about, the conflict it creates can be especially
painful no matter how much you love them.
When you find yourself stuck in conflict with someone you care about, weigh the value of keeping harmony in the relationship. As the saying goes, would you
rather be right or would you rather be happy? Is this issue really worth the hurt feelings you are both experiencing?
There is a different between acceptance and agreement. You may disagree with how a close friend feels about politics or religion, but you can still accept your
friend for the qualities that connect you, instead of focusing on your differences. Take a cue from diplomats and find common ground, then release any
attachment to needing to be right.
Compromises aren’t the only situation that will challenge your values. Decisions that affect the direction of your life can create powerful internal conflicts. You
meet someone wonderful, but he or she lives across the country. You get two nearly identical job offers and can’t decide which one to accept.
Having to choose can be paralyzing if you are afraid of making the wrong decision. Choosing one path over another may feel like you are losing or giving up
something, but remember that life is constantly seeking to keep us in balance. When you give up something, the space is created for something new and better
to take its place.
Some tips for staying true to yourself
1. Practice using your intuition for less important decisions. By getting used to the mental and emotional process you use when weighing your choices, you will
be able to trust your intuition when you are faced with a more far-reaching situation.
2. Stay in touch with your values and viewpoints. Keep a list of the people, interests and activities that you’re drawn towards. Notice what issues in the news
trigger your passion.
3. Don’t give up your power just because you want to keep the peace. If you feel like you are being pressured or bullied into make a choice that isn’t right for you,
walk away.
Life would be easy if we never had to face a difficult decision or resolve a conflict. But a life without compromises or trade-offs would also mean a life without
choices, opportunities and relationships. Remember, you can have it all; you just can’t have it all at once!
Ginny Williams is a professional life coach based out of Plum Island, MA. She has helped her clients start and manage their own successful businesses,
transition into rewarding careers, and make positive changes towards more fulfilling lives. Ginny can be reached at
(978) 462-2334, e-mail Ginny@CoachGinny.com or at www.coachginny.com.
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applaud local women. The core of the magazine is our inspirational women's articles, most of which feature local women but occasionally we are
able to interview national women who we feel provide a unique inspiration for our readers. Our other articles cover topics of interest such as food
recipes, home, garden, beauty, health, fashion, dating, parenting, seniors, finance, business, hair care, skin care, advice, real estate, insurance,
weddings etc. Each issue has a feature section as well. Many of our articles are written by local business people who provide information
relevant to their business expertise. The Applaud Women website is also a resource center for local women including the most comprehensive
listings of Restaurants, Weddings, Female doctors and Hotels. It also includes a number of informational pages with links, articles and RSS feeds
to both local and national websites of interest to women in NH & n. MA. To read the publication click here then click on the cover image to turn
pages, print or download the entire magazine. For past issues visit the Applaud Women Library.
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