Due to a lack of success in finding strong connections, many resort to lowering the expectations for their relationships.

Lowering one’s expectations makes it much easier to find people who meet them, leading to an easier-to-reach sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. However, it disregards many crucial aspects of a relationship. 

Any form of relationship – whether it be platonic or romantic – requires honesty, trust, respect and open communication between two people. The issue that occurs with settling with lower standards is that these requirements are typically not met. 

Security is the most common reason for settling, especially if a relationship starts off strong but slowly dies out. Many find it easier to ignore signs of dissatisfaction than act on them due to a fear of dramatic change. The trepidation of loneliness or the unknown can contribute to a sense of emotional insecurity within a relationship. Even if the relationship is not fulfilling, the familiar and predictable routine it provides may feel more comfortable than the uncertainty of navigating life without a long-term partner. 

By enhancing connectivity, digital communication tools have also played a role in shaping this new standard. Text messages, emojis and brief social media interactions have become the primary means of staying in touch, often replacing deeper, more meaningful conversations. This also leads to relationships being maintained with minimal effort.

It is crucial to recognize the potential pitfalls of this shift. While the bare minimum may be a pragmatic response to the challenges of modern life, it risks diminishing the richness and fulfillment that truly meaningful connections can provide. Relationships thrive on mutual understanding, emotional intimacy and shared experiences, all of which require a level of commitment beyond the bare minimum.

This trend of lowering someone’s standards is praised when low expectations are met. People are seen as “notable” and “exceptional” for respecting a person’s opinions or boundaries and having good communication, even though those are traits every person should have. This praise for bare minimum characteristics results in people settling for less than what they deserve in relationships. This will continue to lower standards in a relationship and lead to people being treated worse over time and it goes unnoticed. Keeping standards higher than the bare minimum is crucial for satisfaction in relationships of any form. Not being able to find happiness in relationships should not result in settling for less as this leads to poor relationship dynamics and unnecessary stress.