Would you rather be right or be happy?

This is a question that always makes me think. I recently heard a slightly different version, “would you rather be right or be married?”

I can’t tell you the number of arguments that I have gotten into over the years which all relate to whether or not I was right. Usually they were about nothing important, as demonstrated by the fact that I don’t remember the substance of most of those arguments. Even a few days later, I usually can remember that I was in an argument but don’t recall what it was about!

How many of those arguments were about me wanting to puff myself up, to boost my own ego?  I don’t need to keep doing that if I want to maintain or fix my relationships.

I have learned to think before I argue. I say things like, “I see what you are saying,” “I understand” and even just “uhunh”.  Or even, “you could be right.”

That helps tremendously!  I get into far fewer arguments.

Are you getting into meaningless arguments, that don’t really matter?  Can you avoid them by using the suggestions above?