I didn't settle when I married my husband. I also didn't expect him to be perfect. He isn't perfect. Nevertheless, I enthusiastically want to spend the rest of my life with him.

That's what not-settling means.

It means choosing someone who has the qualities you consider most important, who makes you happy more than they make you sad, who supports you, who improves your life simply by being around. This person will hurt you and disappoint you and anger you sometimes, because they're human and that's what humans do. Your standards should be high, but also realistic. Expect a great human being, but not a perfect one, because perfect human beings don't exist.