Settle Or Settle?

We are often told that we live our lives at too fast a pace. We need to settle down, take a minute and appreciate what we have. We need to look around and be where our feet are. We need to settle into our lives as we grow older, settle down with someone we love and plant roots. Start a family maybe, or be in a strong friendship group. Give back to the community we are in and give to the people around you. Truly settle into who we are and what we mean to others. Youth is a time to explore but once you’ve past your days of education and finding your feet, we will know who we are and what we want and we can settle into the notion of that.

But in the next breath, we are told that we must never settle. We are amazing and unique. We can achieve anything we put your mind to and we work hard for. We must never settle for anything less than we are worth. We must have loyal friends and family. We deserve the best partner who cares for us and loves the person we are, warts and all. We must never take any shit, and we should cut toxic people from our lives; they are no good for us. Settling is not an option because of how brilliant and special we are.

The English language has many words that are spelt the same, said the same but have a completely different meaning. With that in mind, how are we ever supposed to understand the advice we are given? Which settle do you mean? Should be settle down or not settle? Which would make us happier? Which is the right choice? Settle or settle?