People are complex. We are all multi-dimensional and capable of so many different moods, emotions and issues on life. How we handle stress, manage life and create our views define who we ultimately are. There are so many layers and dimensions to discover for each of us in our journey thru life, it’s like peeling back the leaves of an artichoke to get to the heart (and soul) of each of us.
So, it should be no surprise that relationships are complex. Essentially, it’s a convergence of two complex people searching to find common ground by navigating thru land mines. Chemistry serves as a lubricant, but at the end of the day, a foundation of commonality has to exist for a successful relationship whether it be a friend, sibling, parent, colleague, etc.
But even two very compatible people may find themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum on 1 or several key areas that can jeopardize the overall relationship. This may sound unlikely, but the reality is it should actually be the norm rather than the exception.
Consider all the key components that we have to agree on: Religion; Politics; Health; Family, Choice of friends; Wellness; Lifestyle, etc. Even lesser, more trivial, areas can be deal breakers such as music, movies, and food. The reality is there are many layers, or dimensions, to our life and it may be near impossible to align perfectly with someone else.
So, what to do? For starters, look in the mirror and know who you are what you stand for. Self-awareness can go a long ways…are you opinionated with fixed views or do you keep an open mind? You may have to assess each key area and ask yourself that question. For example, you may be an apathetic Catholic but adamant about pro-life…what if your Catholic friend was pro-choice? Or, you may be liberal politically but your sister is opposed to gay marriage.
If there are two disparate views in an area that is important to one or both of you, it can destroy an otherwise great relationship. So, find a way to “agree to disagree” and focus on all the great areas that have created your rich relationship(s) in an effort to not ruin something special. As we say in business, “85% of something is better than 100% of zero!”
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