Nobody likes to compromise, but sometimes, it’s best to do it so everybody gets something they want. Find out the surprising benefits of compromising, and how to successfully orchestrate a great compromise.
In business, your community, and your relationships, there will come a dreaded moment when you can’t fully have your way about everything. That’s because other people have a say in what happens. How do you deal with it when what you want is in direct conflict with what somebody else wants and neither of you has the power to control things? You do the unthinkable, and compromise. It’s not all bad, and we will prove it. Join SpiritualBlossom to explore the benefits of compromising, why we have to, and why it is so difficult sometimes. It’s not all sunshine though, so we will explore the downside as well as the benefits. Then, find out five simple mindsets to have that will fuel your skills as a great compromiser. Compromise might be tough, but you can be tougher. Read on to find out how.
What is Compromise?
A compromise is some kind of deal made between two people or groups who have been in disagreement about something. Typically both sides give concessions, and a mutual agreement is made. It’s a great way to resolve conflicts, build partnerships, and make sure nobody walks away empty-handed. Compromises have to be made in personal relationships, business deals, and in communities. Compromise requires open communication with everybody listening to one another as much as they speak. Having a high emotional intelligence can help when it comes time to compromise and you can read about that here: How High is Your Emotional Intellect?
Why We Have to Compromise
We have to compromise because we are all so different and that means we all have different desires and needs. Sometimes, the unthinkable happens, and what we want or need is in direct opposition to what other people involved want or need. This can happen because of sharing of spaces or resources, and it’s a big problem politically. It can happen in personal relationships, especially when you live together and it can lead to breakups, divorces, or even just times of non-contact between friends. We compromise to live in harmony with one another, and maintain relationships.
Why Compromise Is Difficult
It sounds like compromise would be all sunshine and roses, doesn’t it? It isn’t. It’s difficult because everybody has to concede something and concessions can hurt. You might feel taken advantage of or even blackmailed to keep some things in your agreement by someone who abuses their position in the negotiations. This can strain relationships and create an uneasy truce. It might create resentment, especially if communications become tense. In the heat of the moment, people sometimes make the mistake of saying things they later regret and can’t take back. Nobody likes to lose, and compromising can make people feel like they lose completely even if they gain more than they would have if they had not compromised. Having to compromise might feel like a deal breaker. Read about deal breakers here: What Are Deal Breakers?
The Downside of Compromise
The downside of compromise is worse than just finding it difficult. Losing things in the deal can hurt. The lack of personal power can hurt more than what you lose. Settling for anything less than perfect can hurt the most of all.
You Lose Some
You have to give something up when you compromise, because other people involved need something too. If your neighborhood is working on their first Halloween event, and you want it at night, what happens when everybody else insists it take place during daylight? Halloween just might not feel like Halloween during the day, but consider for a moment what will happen if you don’t let everybody else have what they want? They might not attend and your Halloween won’t be fun if nobody is there. Halloween is based on a much older holiday called Samhain. Read about Samhain here: All About Samhain
You Have Less Power
When you have to compromise, you have less power than if you get to decide everything that happens. This can make YOU feel compromised, chip away at your sense of self-worth, and make you wonder if your voice matters at all. Compromise is actually not a sign of powerlessness. It’s an opportunity to go deep within yourself and find your inner problem solver. It pushes you to find creative solutions, think of mutually beneficial outcomes, and create situations that would not have existed had you never been called to compromise. Becoming a great compromiser can bring out the best in you!
Things Aren’t Perfect
Maybe things won't be as perfect as they could have been if you have to compromise. You won't get everything you want. Some things might not fit together seamlessly, or the other people involved might leave upset because they didn't get everything they wanted. Still, when times call for compromise, if both groups of people will work together, things will turn out better. Any time you work together as a team, you build a group solidarity, and everybody feels that their voice is heard. Maybe each person involved didn't get everything perfectly the way that they wanted, but if you all really try, you will work together perfectly. We really are stronger together, and you can find out all about the magic of unity here: Teamwork: The Power of Strength in Numbers
The Benefits of Compromise
Even though some people don't like to compromise and you might not get everything exactly the way you want, there are great benefits to compromising. Everybody walks away with something instead of just some people. You collaborate and come together, and that's very powerful. It also helps to build mutual respect, especially if you work well together.
Everyone Gets Something
If compromise is never reached, somebody will walk away without anything. That's not a desirable goal. Compromise makes sure that everyone gets something, even if they don't all get everything that they want. If you want to bring groups together to create a Community Resources Center, chances are that different groups are going to want to have everything their own way. That's not possible. If two different groups want control of the center every weekend, your answer is to either give one group every Saturday and the other group every Sunday, or have the groups each get in every other weekend. That way, they both get their weekend hours even though they don't get every single weekend. Compromise ensures that.
You Collaborate
When you collaborate with other people, you share your resources, manpower, talents, and ideas. Plenty of people say they prefer to work on their own, but even those people bring something to the team. They can split off after meeting with everyone to perform their individual. part of the work, and then come back together with the group to present what they've done. It's true that sometimes the more people you have working together, the greater chance there is of chaos, But with good planning, that chaos can be averted, and all the different people can work together harmoniously. When you collaborate together, you get the benefit of the good things that everyone is capable of doing. Even if there is some chaos, inner peace is possible. Find out why here: Inner Calm in the Midst of Chaos
There is Mutual Respect
One of the most positive things about compromising is that it creates respect between the people who compromise with you. It also demonstrates that other people’s needs and desires matter to you, and their voices will be heard. Just remember that sometimes you have to be the first one to pay people respect to get it back. When you are willing to listen to what other people have to say and find ways to give them as much as possible of what they want, they will respect that about you, appreciate you, and sometimes they will be more likely to give you something in return for what you've given them.
How to Create Compromise
Deciding to compromise is difficult enough, but collaborating on the compromise is even more difficult. It doesn't have to be impossible though. There are five easy ways to create great compromise. Open communication by being specific about your ideas and listening intently to what other people say is very important. Keep the attitude that everybody deserves to benefit from this compromise. That will make sure that you give as well as take, and you make everybody happy.
Be Specific
It's very important to express your concerns, needs, and thoughts. It's also important to express them well. Tact, respectful language, and good details are very important. When you're expressing yourself during times of compromise, if you don't tell everyone what's on your mind, they won't know. It's important to organize your thoughts before you sit down to have the meeting, and a great way to do that is to journal about it, or do light meditation about it. Then write down your thoughts, and take the notes to your meeting. Virgos can be very specific if you want suggestions. Learn more about that Zodiac sign here: Virgo Traits and Love Compatibility
Listen
A lot of people are only silent long enough until it's their turn to speak and then they disregard everything that's been said to them. Don't make that mistake. Really pay attention to what people are saying to you and consider those things fairly. Just hearing the words isn't enough. You need to fairly think about what they've said. That's very difficult when what they're saying conflicts with what you're saying. The wonderful thing about compromising is that people bring different ideas to the conversation comma and new information might change your mind. Sometimes your ideas will be better, and sometimes theirs will be. You won't know unless you listen.
Be Mutually Beneficial
Everybody involved deserves to benefit from compromise. Keep this attitude close to your heart while you're working on a compromise. Remember that the reason you've been called to compromise in the first place is because different people have different needs and desires, and a solution to accommodate all of these things is called for. Everybody matters equally, and the compromise that you come to should reflect that. This attitude alone will help you to be the greatest compromiser most people have ever met. One sign that mediates well is Gemini and you can read about them here: Gemini Zodiac Traits and Love Compatibility
Give as Well as Take
Since everyone deserves to benefit, you might not get everything that you want, but that doesn't mean that you don't deserve anything. Being fair to everyone means to give a little something instead of taking it off for yourself. It also means making sure you get something too. It's very rare that only one person in the group wants a particular thing , so chances are, what you want is the same thing that some of the other people want. Since there are different people involved, and different people have different needs, you will have to forget about some of the things that you want, but so will they. Compromise should be fair and equally balanced.
Make Everyone Happy
Some people are impossible to please, but most people can be pleased. Find ways to make everyone happy about something in your compromise. The people who are happiest when they have everything that they want can even enjoy the part that they got in their favor, no matter how much they complain. The people who complain less, but have voiced their concerns deserve to be happy too. So, in your compromise, find a way to make sure nobody walks away with nothing. Find out how to be happy even in difficult times here: Being Happy, Even in Dark Times
A Final Word
Compromising can be difficult. Giving up things that you feel would make a situation perfect can feel like ripping your own heart out. Do it anyway. There are going to be times when you are in charge of mediating compromise that doesn't directly affect you. It might seem hard to be objective at first, especially if you think some of the people have ridiculous ideas. Someone has chosen you to decide what's going to be best, so you're going to have to make judgment calls about what needs to be done. Being as fair as possible while considering the best course of action is going to be your job as the mediator.
Sometimes what you're compromising on does directly affect you, and it will be hard to emotionally detach. While you're trying to be fair to the other people, finding solutions that benefit everyone will be better for you than having everything all your own way when it's time to come to a compromise. Some of the greatest minds in history have been responsible for orchestrating compromise, and some of them failed miserably at it. To make sure that you don't have to worry about that, keep an open mind, and open heart, and make your number one goal creating solutions that benefit everyone. Then, you can't fail.
Compromise is that uncomfortable position that we're put in when we have to find things that are mutually beneficial, and the first suggested solution wasn't. You might not get everything exactly the way you want it, but you get to sharpen your skills at creative problem solving and create better group cohesion by getting everyone involved and finding solutions. Each time you're in charge of compromising, you need to listen as much as you talk, find ways to be mutually beneficial, and try to make everyone happy. The hard part is coming up with good solutions, and the easy part comes after you have some that everybody is benefiting from them. Great compromise brings everyone together, and it is good fortune to be entrusted with making that happen. You’ve got this!
If you're looking for creative ways to come up with harmonious compromise, look no further. Get a reading started with one of our psychics to come up with solutions for great compromise today.
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for PaganPages.Org emag and Green Egg Magazine.
