You should never settle for anything less than the best for yourself. You were designed and built to be something great. Stop settling for less when it comes to your job, relationships, life goals, or dreams. You should feel free to live a meaningful life.

Many people take the least because they’re fearful that they will have nothing if they don’t settle for something. Take, for instance, a woman who is 35 and has never married. Her family pressures her for marriage and children, so she settles with someone who isn’t a good match. She let the condemnation of others dictate her motives, and now she’s in a messy situation that makes her completely miserable.

The key is that if she had just waited a little bit longer, her prince charming would have arrived. You can do the same thing with jobs, friendships, and self-journeys. The truth is you’re so much more than you give yourself credit for in this life, and it’s time you make some changes.

Fifteen Signs You’re Settling for Less

So many people fall into the trap of settling for less, so it’s become commonplace. However, it takes your life from a happy place to one of dread when you make such bad choices. Here are some typical indications that you’ve settled for less, and now you’re miserable because of these selections.

settling for less

1. Your Inner Circle Drains the Life Right Out of You

Those around you don’t have any respect for you or your beliefs, and they’re draining the life right out of you. You’ve lost your happiness, and there’s no life energy inside you.

It’s time for you to make changes to ensure your health and overall wellbeing. You must live for yourself and do what makes you feel complete. Just place the opinions of others in file 13 with your other rubbish.

2. You Are Controlled by Money When Settling for Less

Most people in today’s society allow money to dictate their life. However, if the love of the almighty dollar controls you, it’s a good sign that you’re settling. If every shopping trip reminds you of how little money you have, how much the price of things has increased, and that you will need to work overtime to get the things you need, you’re settling.

Finding the perfect job can bring financial freedom and relieve you from suffering from living paycheck to paycheck.

3. You’ve Lost Faith in Yourself and Your Dreams

It’s a difficult position when you lose faith in not only yourself but your dreams for tomorrow. The Bible states that in Proverbs 29:18 that if you don’t have a vision, you will perish.

This means if you have nothing to dream about and live for, then your tomorrow won’t be promising. This is a good way for depression to set into your life, as you’ve lost your faith in your abilities and hope for a bright future.

4. Your Job is Nothing More Than a Paycheck

The old saying states that if you’re doing something that you love, you won’t work a day in your life. However, you dread the alarm clock every day as you will have to drag yourself to another ordinary day on your tedious job.

There’s no joy in what you do, as you’re just there to scrape by and get a paycheck. This is not how you foresaw your life going, but somehow, you’ve arrived here by settling.

5. When You’re Settling for Less, You Operate On Autopilot

You feel like one of those cars that drives themselves, and all you need to do is push a button. You’re on autopilot, and it feels like you’re just going through the motions rather than enjoying the experience. You may even feel numb to the things around you because you’ve learned to turn off your emotions to save yourself the heartache.

6. If  You Are Settling for Less, Your Confidence is Low

Do you ever feel like your inner sparkle is gone? Perhaps you’ve lost all confidence in your ability to make good choices and have a happy life. You’re settling for less when you notice that your faith is on the low side, and nothing seems to help.

7. Your Views Are Negative

You can tell that you’re settling for less when your attitude is constantly negative. You feel like a dark cloud has settled around you as you can no longer see the sunshine. Your expectations of the day and your life are on the south side, and you’re starting not to care anymore.

8. Your Standards Are So Low They Can’t Get Any Lower

It’s not uncommon for people to lower their standards to have friends or romantic relationships. However, if you keep dropping your standards, you might as well not have any. While you shouldn’t be too picky, it’s a sign you’re settling when you become careless with your choices.

settling for less

9. You Appear to Others as a Know It All

You come across to others as someone who knows everything, and there’s no way you need to learn everything new. In fact, some might call you a “know it all” based on your attitude. The truth is that you don’t know half of what you let on to people, and you’re settling for so much more than you want in life, so you need to put on a facade.

10. You’ve Stopped Caring About Yourself

One of the scariest places to be is when you stop caring about yourself. You don’t care how you look, if you have a nice haircut, or if your clothes are in style. Things that once were so important to you don’t have nearly the same meaning. You’ve lost your self-respect, and it shows on the inside and out.

11. Your Decisions Are Influenced by Others and Not Your Feelings

You don’t have a say in your life, as you lead by the dictations of others. You let your family and friends control your thoughts and beliefs, and you don’t have a mind of your own. When others control your life, you’re not going to be happy.

According to Psychology Today’s Dr. David Schnarch, the people that try to control you do it because they feel like they have no power over their own lives. It’s a vicious cycle that repeats itself, and only you can stop it.

12. Your Rational Mind is Leading You

When you make decisions, you must think about things rationally, but you also must connect with your heart and soul about matters. If you’re letting your rationale lead you because the connection to your soul is lost, it’s a sign you’re settling for less in life. It’s time for you to make some changes and put passion back into your daily existence.

13. You Surrounded by People but Feel So Alone

There are folks all around you, but you’ve never felt so alone before in your life. The people there don’t support you, and they’re not concerned about loving or helping you out. Making new friends is one of the goals you need to work on, but you’re settling for less right now.

14. Every Morning is a Dreaded Experience if You’re Settling for Less

You hate to see the sun come up as you know it’s another day of mundane life. You’ve become so disciplined with your schedule that you feel like a prisoner. You would love some diversity and something to look forward to, but you feel like there’s no differentiation between one day or another.

Be careful, as this is also a common sign of depression. Make sure you don’t have any other symptoms that might go along with this that indicate a mental health disturbance.

15. Having Fun is a Foreign Concept to You

What’s fun? You can’t remember the last time you’ve laughed or had a good time. All you do is work, come home, do chores, and go to sleep. Your expectations are too low, and your decision to settle is draining the life right out of you.

settling for less

Final Thoughts on Signs You’re Settling for Less

One of the most popular reasons people settle is that it is most convenient. They took the job that paid less because it was closer to where they lived, and they wouldn’t need to move from their comfort zone. Had they been willing to relocate, they could have had a whole different life and a real chance at financial freedom.

There’s a vast difference between being alive and living, and you must learn this concept to change things. You can go through the motions each day on a lackluster life, or you can take charge and make things happen. Never pass on your passions, as you will look back ten years from now and realize that you deserved so much better than you got.

Respect yourself enough to take the road less traveled, the path that’s a bit more challenging to you. When you choose and settle for mediocrity, it’s never going to be good enough for your life. Remember that ‘the sky’s the limit, and the only thing that’s holding you back is your mindset.

Isn’t it time you stop settling for less?