What is a compromise?

1.  An agreement of settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions
2.  The expedient acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable

Compromise never feels perfect. Everyone gains something and everyone loses something. It’s important to consider what the compromise means not just for you but also for the other person- to recognize the sacrifice and value on their part as well.

The key to compromise is feeling understood, respected, and honored in your hopes.

Here we see two compromise ovals.
We like to think of it as a compromise bagel.

FLEXIBLE VS. INFLEXIBLE

The inside oval (inflexible area) contains the ideas, needs, and values you absolutely cannot compromise on, and the outside oval (flexible area) contains the ideas, needs, and values that you feel are negotiable.

After you have defined your core needs and areas of flexibility, come up with a temporary compromise. Repeat this exercise periodically to re-evaluate.