Relationships are important for humans. Mutual trust and understanding make up the basis for any relationship. While truth, honesty and respect keep a relationship steady, compromise helps foster it. Therefore compromise can be termed an essential tool in maintaining human relationships.

However, it is difficult to measure the degree of compromise, or the quality of compromise for that matter. It largely depends on personal attitudes of individuals and his/her perception of life and the situation one is undergoing.

Despite being an essential tool in maintaining a relationship, compromise has its boundaries. Many a time it so happens that one party compromises and the counterpart takes undue advantage. This kind of one-sided thinking often invites unpleasant situation which makes things uncomfortable for both sides. Thus it is up to an individual to decide as to up to what level he/she should compromise. At times compromise invites untoward incidents as well. Unless both parties are sensible, compromise does not work; it rather invites severe consequences.

Being in any relationship means respecting and understanding each other’s feelings and sentiments. Making compromise means having a capacity to keep the relationship warm and intact. It also indicates that relationship is more important than ego. In a relationship, compromise helps to bind people together without any self-interest.

While rigidity can bring negativity in a relationship, compromise can help smooth over a few rough edges. In a healthy relationship, it is important to understand each other and respect each other’s thinking and belief.

Open talk and dialogue help clear most of the misunderstandings that plague the relationship. So along with the compromising quality, one should have the quality of openness and open behaviour to maintain a sound relationship. If there is no compromise, there is no relationship. But everything has its limitation.

Maintaining a healthy relationship is the main objective of compromise and if that is achieved without annihilating a person’s identity and dignity, there is no harm in making compromises. After making compromises, both parties should feel comfortable. Otherwise, it becomes a big burden to both sides. Hence it is important to think before one makes a compromise.