I definitely think that they are two different animals. I agree that sacrifice normally means giving something up and compromise is the middle road. When it comes to living life, both are a part of that picture. How much room we allow them to occupy is totally up to us. I have no problems sacrificing for things that I love, i.e. my wife, children, family and friends but when it comes to sacrificing morality, principals, beliefs; I tend to draw the line. You said that you knew a few people who followed their bliss at the expense of those around them. Personally I wish I had more of that in me. All too often, not only in me but in others I know, dreams are set aside (compromised) for “the greater good”. It is a balancing act to be sure. I feel that people come and go within our lives and that each and every person has a message for us. It is up to us to find that message. If by our actions, (how we live) we end up alienating them then we are potentially missing life changing interactions, growth, wisdom. I do not believe in coincidences.

Michael,
There is a certain point where you need to pay the bills and if you job pays well enough that you have the money to find peace outside of work it may be worth the meaningless hours.

I was rarely truely happy in the military but I knew that if I did 20 years I would never have to worry about medical insurance again and I could retire and do what I wanted. I could see the world and meet new people in the meantime. I could find the good somewhere enough to tolerate the tyrants that I sometimes worked for. I find the same type of control freak people in civilian life.

I just recently talked my husband into quiting his job because he was loyal to them but they weren't loyal to him when I proved it to him he quit. There was no point in staying there. I have also quit a job because it wasn't worth working for those control freaks. The loyalty was not not there.

I very fortunately have a husband that cares very much about me. I do what I think is right, whatever it takes to be able to sleep well at night, I am at peace within myself. I am not rich I am just very contently happy. I live a very fulfilling life. I have bills lot of them, but I enjoy life more fully than most and hey nobody can steal my credit.

7 Habits made a lot of since to me. I think me and my husband both live a win-win or no deal life. I think most people view that as a lose-lose. My husband is constantly helping other fishermen fix their boats etc... We usually work it out in some form of trade.

We have a poor family that we help out that has six kids, and the father just doesn't get it. He constantly quits his jobs and if it weren't for us they would be homeless. We have helped support them for almost 3 years now. I think that I can honestly say that we compromise our own wants at times for the sake of those around us.

The sacrifice that we make for this is we have very little in our savings, we have bills and our children will have to work their way through college. If they choose to go!

I need to be a savior to someone or I feel lost. Helping this family adds purpose to our lives and gives us a bit of more meaning. If they became unworthy I would find someone else to help. I think at least one of these six kids will amount to something and whether I get the credit for that doesn't matter. This gives me the courage to tell others no. I have warehouses full of bricks in heaven because of the sacrifices we have selfishly made for others. (Notice the selfish part)

We gave a house to a non-profit organization in the area because we could. I did it because it added value to who I am. We had the opportunity and we took it it in a since gave us one more rung on Jacob's ladder.

I do not do things for public recognition I do them as a form of self sacrifice that brings me closer to righteousness.

That is why I can wake up in the morning day after day and help others that don't always deserve the help and that think that they are pulling the wool over my eyes. If I don't help you however, it won't hurt me.

The dark side to this is that if you wrong me I will more than happily put the final nail into your coffin. When I pray for someone to reap what they sow my prayers are answered. I believe wholeheartedly that if you take advantage of people like me and my husband than you deserve an eternity in hell. I also don't care that much for organized religion. I'd rather spend Sunday morning fishing than being preach at.

I refuse to quit being righteous and that is my greatest strength. my anger which people rarely see is my greatest weakness.