Settling

It seems we're allowed to "settle into" but not to "settle for." Odd. The preposition makes all the difference.

Settling into a new pattern, job, environment is usually considered a good thing.

Settling for this thing over that thing in our everyday lives (job, career, finances) typically carries with it a negative connotation. The subtext here is this thing (you've settled for) is not as good as that thing (you didn't pursue).

Why is this?

Isn't there a balance to strike between settling for where you are and what you have and endlessly striving for more?

Often it's in the settling we find firm footing, a sense of stability, somewhere solid to stand.