How Compatible Are You?
There are many elements that go towards dictating your compatibility with someone, including the following:
- culture
- class
- background
- education
- career
- income level
- interests
- religion
- political views
Even though you may not be looking for (or even want) someone who is identical to yourself, a relationship can often be easier if you share at least some common ground. Having the same goals and values can ensure that the two of you will be moving in the same direction and enable you to offer each other companionship and support (not opposition) along the way. After the initial period of infatuation wears off, failure to share at least some of your principles and major goals can cause serious problems, and unless you are both willing and able to compromise, then you may be laying yourself open to a relationship filled with emotional struggle and hard work.
We asked our readers who were in a current relationship, "Who said 'I love you' first"? Here's how they responded ...
* 67% - He did
* 33% - She did
Long Term Compatibility
After you've been going out for a few weeks or months, the initial phase of trying to impress each other will usually give way to a more relaxed style. At this point, your true characters may start to emerge, along with any signs of potential incompatibility. It's important to pay attention to any signs of incompatibility early on and decide whether they're something you can live with or not. Don't stay in the relationship because you assume that you can 'change' your girlfriend or boyfriend; although people do sometimes grow or change, it's never simply because someone else wants them to. You need to either decide that you can put up with their annoying quirks, or move on; if you start trying to change them, you run the risk of turning into a nag a or bully, and you may end up resenting them and hating yourself.
