The last week or so has really tested me with regard to my ability to look at life in an uncompromising way. It may be a symptom of my forthcoming midlife crisis, but I'm really starting to see, with vivid clarity, all of the ways I've allowed compromise to make my life less than what it could have been. I don't hate myself for it, exactly, but I'm not pleased with myself either.
The world is far from a black and white place, so one could argue that compromise is a necessary component of life. We engage in compromises every day, especially in our closest relationships and our professional lives. One could also argue that knowing when to compromise is the admirable trait of someone who is experienced and mature. It's hard for me to argue against those points.
That experience, however, helps you prioritize what is important, and that process eventually leads you to the guidance that drives your decision making around compromise. For me, it's important that I feel engaged with what I'm doing, that the quality and integrity of what I do is high, and that what I do does not interfere with my happiness or relationship with my family. The last week revealed that I was making far too many compromises in these areas, and I took drastic action.
Maybe the biggest worry about compromise comes with age. I've observed a lot of death and illness in the last year. While none of it has affected me personally in a traumatic way, it does leave me with a lasting and scary realization: Settling sucks. There is a point at which compromise becomes settling for something less than ideal. Life simply isn't long enough to settle for less than ideal. I might be more idealistic now than I was when I was 20. I do want my cake.
Good enough isn't good enough. Don't settle, whether it's with your job or your personal life.
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