12 Things One Should Never Sacrifice In A Relationship

Being in a relationship is meant to help you to be a better person. Your partner is supposed to support you to make yourself complete through self-fulfillment.

Yes, sometimes you need to sacrifice for the sake of your partner. Selfishness has no room in a relationship that is healthy. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice comfort, wants, and even opportunities to secure your relationship.

However, there are important things that you must never sacrifice for your relationship. If you do, you will lose yourself. To know what they are, check below.

* Self-love

When you enter a relationship, you commit to loving the person you give your heart to. Loving involves taking care of your partner’s needs and being careful not to hurt him/her.

Nevertheless, you cannot lose self-love in the process of loving someone else. Before you love others, you have to love yourself first. This is not selfish. It simply means you can only love others effectively by learning to love yourself.

Therefore, never forget about your own needs. Do not let yourself be abused in any way in your relationship.

* Self-respect

Losing your self-respect may lead to your partner disrespect towards you. Some forms of disrespect in a relationship include cheating, being taken for granted, and abuse of any kind. Do not allow yourself to be disrespected physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and even financially.

* Time for self

Whether you are single or in a relationship, always keep your “me time”. You need this to be able to cope with the stressful demands of life. Also, this will help you to heal and rest whenever you are struggling with problems.

Be with a person who will respect your right to privacy. Your partner should understand that you cannot give him/her all your time. S/he should even encourage you this for holistic growth.

* Identity

Never lose yourself for someone. If your current relationship requires you to change your identity, then you are probably in the wrong place. A healthy relationship is meant to help you unleash who you really are. Do not settle with a person who wants to change you to suit his/her idealism.

* Independence

This is especially true for women. No matter how stable you are with your partner or spouse, never unlearn independence. Your partner may be able to secure you physically, emotionally, or financially, but time is not always the same.

It is good to have a responsible partner who takes care of you and your needs. However, what if something happened and you would have to be on your own? That would be a big, painful adjustment.

* Principles

The right person will not make you compromise your values. If your relationship is causing you to break your life principles, such as your morals and integrity, then it is not healthy. You are losing yourself along the way.

As 1 Corinthians 13: 6 says, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Therefore, if your relationship is causing you to lie, tolerate wrongdoings, and even conform to them, then there is no true love in it.

* Health

A good partner will help you to be a well-rounded individual. Meaning, s/he should encourage you to improve in all areas of life. This includes your health—physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental. Thus, if your relationship is influencing you to be unhealthy in any way, then think clearly.

* Joy

Why stay in a relationship which gives you nothing but pain and sorrow? If it only gives you temporary and superficial happiness, but it robs you of inner joy, then it is not worth it.

For instance, you cannot be genuinely happy if you know your relationship is causing others pain. Or why keep a relationship which is causing you to lose other important relationships, such as with your family and friends?

* Peace of mind

In connection with no. 7, you should not sacrifice peace of mind for a relationship. It is not worth keeping a relationship that gives you sleepless nights. If your present relationship is giving you guilt, worries, and fears, then how can you be happy? Ask yourself if you want to spend the rest of your life in uncertainties.

* Dreams

Yes, it is okay to adjust your career plans if it can help secure your relationship. Such sacrifice is sometimes necessary for more long-term plans in the future of your relationship.

However, what is not okay is if you have to completely let go of your dreams. Remember that before you had met your partner, you already had your life goals. Sacrificing your dreams would cause you to lose direction for self-growth.

You need to be with a partner who will support and help you achieve your dreams. S/he should allow you to spread your wings and reach the heights.

* Good friends

If your partner is jealous of your friends and s/he does not want you to see them, then it is unhealthy. As long as your friends are not influencing you to do anything harmful to yourself or your relationship, then there is no reason to lose them. Do not lose good friends for unreasonable jealousy.

* Family

As it is always said, “blood is thicker than water”. You can change partners, but your family will always be your family. For this reason, never sacrifice your family for a romantic relationship.

If your relationship is creating a gap between you and your family, then evaluate why. Your family probably disapproves of your relationship because they can see that it is not good for you.