Relationships are similar to financial investment plans — you have to take time to pick what suits your needs, you only benefit if you invest continuously and it takes times to mature and grow. As the situation progresses, there should be signs of maturation and growth; however, if you’re staying in a relationship for reasons outside of building a future, then you may have lost sight of your initial intentions for pursuing a partnership. People often stunt the growth of their possibilities in a love affair by settling for what they don’t want. Here’s a hint: if you find yourself constantly making excuses for your relationship, you may be settling for less.

People get comfortable in relationships and when they get used to being around that particular person, it becomes their justification of why they remain with them. Whether it’s a sense of loyalty or a notion of sympathy, when people choose to stay in a relationship for reasons outside of what’s fulfilling to them, it becomes unfair to both people who are involved in that intimate commitment.

Emotions just get in the way, and when your heart takes over, logic often gets thrown out the window. Sometimes, peoples lives are so intertwined that it just seems easier to stay together than deal with the heartache a breakup can cause.

When less feels like more, it’s easy to confuse settling with sacrifice. When a person settles in a relationship, the end result is typically less than what they initially anticipated. If a person makes a sacrifice, they ultimately give up something in an attempt to gain more in return. It’s OK to make sacrifices. It’s not OK to settle.

If you’ve never experienced a loving, giving relationship, then accepting less can become commonplace. It’s important to understand your worth, so when someone attempts to give a love that doesn’t satisfy your personal expectations, you can walk away without compromising who you are. - jamana jamison

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