50 Humorous Pics That Show There Are Two Types Of People In The World

Professor Degges-White noted that all relationships are about giving, as well as taking; we have to be proactive in our kindness and attention if we want the relationship (whether it's friendship or romantic) to work.

"When it comes to getting along with folks who are on the polar opposite side of the spectrum than we are, it's important to remember why we want that person in our life and the 'why' behind our desire to get along. All of us need to learn that we have to give a little in every relationship if we want to get a little, in return," she told Bored Panda.

"In couples where there is an early riser and a late sleeper, they both need to be willing to honor their partner's need and find ways to maximize the time they are able to enjoy together. Sometimes, crazy work shifts may require two very different schedules—be alert to the 'overlapping leisure time' and focus on quality of shared time, not quantity,"the counselor said that people have to be flexible in how they spend time with their loved ones.

Professor Degges-White believes that even people who like very pets, like cats and dogs, can get along. They just have to look at their preferences from a broader perspective. "When it comes to cat people and dog people, the shared interest is animals—that's a great conversation starter right there. 'I love dogs—they are loyal, affectionate, and full of energy when I walk into a room! You prefer cats, right? What do you appreciate most about felines?' Once you get the shared commonality identified, enjoy exploring the differences between you and another," she gave Bored Panda an example of how individuals can try and bridge this gap between them and the person they're trying to get to know.

Meanwhile, when it comes to people who either love everything neat and those who don't mind a bit of chaos in their lives, boundaries are incredibly important. The professor from Northern Illinois University shared a few ways how we can communicate this to our loved ones, partners, and roommates.

"For the neatniks vs. the clutter-hounds, learning to draw boundaries if you share a space is important. For instance, 'I can be messy, I just need to keep 'my' mess from overtaking the 'neat' space that you create.' If it's related to housekeeping in a shared home, 'I can leave dishes in the sink overnight, so don't push me to wash them and I'll take care of them in the morning when I wake up.' Or, if your roommate/partner cannot go to bed with dishes in the sink and wants to wash them, let them have at it."

The professor also spoke a bit about how we can learn to accept the things we can't change (though we might wish that we could).

"There's a therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and it's all about accepting the things that we cannot change. Sometimes, we just have to accept the qualities in another that annoy us as just part of the package. We also have to remember that the things we do may be just as annoying to others who are just better at hiding their annoyance," she said.

"While we're all more alike than different, we should recognize that it's difference that often draws us to someone as we all appreciate novelty and new ways of being/doing/thinking."