9 Differences Between Accepting & Tolerating Your Partner

Regarding romantic relationships, you may accept certain traits about your partner while only tolerating others. Of course, it helps to understand the differences between accepting and tolerating your partner in order to make the differentiation.

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“When we tolerate behavior, we are still angry, frustrated and resentful about it,” Kim Olver, MS, LCPC, NCC, BCC, founder of The Relationship Center, and author of Secrets of Happy Couples, tells Bustle. “However, when we get to acceptance, all the negativity falls away — there is no frustration, anger, or resentment.” She says that when you accept your partner as-is, or a certain thing about them, you feel like this: “I accept this thing is a small part of the bigger package that is you. I realize it is working for you, and I accept it as an integral part of who you are and I don’t want you to change it.”