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Their aggravatingtraits are probably here to stay; here's how to live with them.
WE GET A lot of advice about what traits to look for in a partner: honesty, intelligence, chemistry, similarity, conflict-management skills. However, too often we fail to flip the script and consider which unwelcome traits we're willing to accept and accommodate.
A few years ago, I read a piece about the wisdom of evaluating what types of pain or struggle you endure well. The author highlighted that even the best things in life-travel, falling in love, parenthood-come with challenges. He argued that maybe we should focus a little less on what we want out of life and start asking, "What am I willing to struggle for?" When it comes to long-term romantic relationships, this advice is spot on.
While we tend to focus on seeking positive qualities in romantic partners, considering their faults as well can be wise...