We all have an idea as to what would make the "perfect" job, partner, or lifestyle. We might spend a lot of time and energy in pursuit of it, only to pass up great-yet-not-100-percent-perfect opportunities along the way.
We must each come to terms with the fact that there is no such thing as perfection. Your job, partner, and life as a whole will always lack something you want. If only we had a machine at our disposal that allowed us to create these to our specifications, right?
As much as I would love to believe that there's a job out there that has everything I could want -- intellectually stimulating work, great pay and benefits, fantastic co-workers, and so forth -- the truth is that no job is going to meet all my criteria.
The same applies to one's choice of a partner. Your boyfriend will never live up to your idea of perfection. Maybe he'll never be as muscular, romantic, or handy as you'd like.
That isn't to say that we should resign to settling for any job or partner. However, when you know a job or potential suitor can provide more than half the things you really want -- say, 60 to 75 percent of your criteria -- then you know you have a keeper.
Life is all about compromise. If you spend all your time and effort in search of perfection, you'll never find it -- because it's non-existent. Unfortunately, those who insist on landing the perfect job or partner may end up with lousier prospects than someone who remains more flexible. That's the irony!
Should you settle for less? No. But if settling for less to you means turning down an opportunity because it fails to live up to your stingent standards, you may have to assess whether it's you who is being picky and unrealistic.
If you want to check out prior entries, click here: How to Understand People
We must each come to terms with the fact that there is no such thing as perfection. Your job, partner, and life as a whole will always lack something you want. If only we had a machine at our disposal that allowed us to create these to our specifications, right?
As much as I would love to believe that there's a job out there that has everything I could want -- intellectually stimulating work, great pay and benefits, fantastic co-workers, and so forth -- the truth is that no job is going to meet all my criteria.
The same applies to one's choice of a partner. Your boyfriend will never live up to your idea of perfection. Maybe he'll never be as muscular, romantic, or handy as you'd like.
That isn't to say that we should resign to settling for any job or partner. However, when you know a job or potential suitor can provide more than half the things you really want -- say, 60 to 75 percent of your criteria -- then you know you have a keeper.
Life is all about compromise. If you spend all your time and effort in search of perfection, you'll never find it -- because it's non-existent. Unfortunately, those who insist on landing the perfect job or partner may end up with lousier prospects than someone who remains more flexible. That's the irony!
Should you settle for less? No. But if settling for less to you means turning down an opportunity because it fails to live up to your stingent standards, you may have to assess whether it's you who is being picky and unrealistic.
If you want to check out prior entries, click here: How to Understand People
Comments