Why You Should Never Settle For Less Than You Deserve

by  James Michael Sama

culled from:http://jamesmsama.com
Every now and then I get feedback from readers telling me that my articles portray unrealistic figures or people, who don’t really exist.
No man can live up to the standards set to be a good man, and the type of woman men are looking for seems to be the stuff of rom-coms.

No man or woman? Seven billion people in the world, and, nobody? 
I may not always meet the standards that I set for myself, but I have made a pledge to do my damnedest. Nobody is perfect, and perhaps filling every single point in these articles, all the time, is ‘impossible’ – as much as I hate to use that word.
Though, as Vince Lombardi said: Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
You, my friend, deserve someone who will wake up every morning and look you in the eye with the pledge of being the best that they can, both for themselves and for you. You deserve someone who will make you feel empowered, encouraged, and invincible. Someone who makes you believe that maybe fairy tales have some truth rooted in them. Someone who makes you feel like everything will be okay, just by smiling at you. Not only a lover, but a best friend. A teammate in not only your relationship, but in life.
Don’t you?
They are out there. I believe when two people truly connect and care for each other, they will do these things for each other without even trying. The connection formed will give you hope and strength. Sharing in the happiness of the man or woman you love will enhance your own happiness as well. The sun will shine brighter and your accomplishments will feel just a little more fulfilling, because you now have someone to share them with. I believe that while this is difficult to find, life is too short to settle for anything less.
Of course circumstances get in the way. Life happens, and it’s unpredictable. We have all had curveballs thrown at us, and we certainly do not all wake up on the real life set of The Notebook – but that doesn’t mean we can’t find what we all want: Happiness.

Happiness is not a product of perfection. Happiness is a product of progress. Striving to be better. Love. Caring. Respect. Loyalty. Focusing on what matters, and forgetting what doesn’t.
Is a list written by some guy on the internet the ideal set of characteristics for a man or a woman? Obviously not. Can it be used for self-reflection and understanding who you want to be as a person? Absolutely.
So – for the sake of your very own quality of life, pledge to yourself that you will set a standard for what you will and won’t accept from a romantic partner, and then stick to it. Some people might call it being ‘too picky’ – I just call it refusing to accept less than you deserve.
You’re not perfect. The person you’re with isn’t perfect. But, if you refuse to settle for less than you deserve, you just might find someone who’s perfect for you.
Trust me.