We have trouble understanding each other. Many think that the world is harder on us them than it is on others, but is it really? We all have our own burdens to carry, they are just different for each person. We all come from different places, have had different upbringings, by different parents, in different settings. We have different educations, experiences, traumas, lifestyle, dream, and desires. Let's see if we can find some common ground. |
Cheating is rarely just about sex. In fact, there are studies that suggest that cheating for sexual gratification alone is responsible for less than 20% of the cases. An affair is rarely the actual problem; it is usually the symptom of the problem. Infidelity is a complicated and difficult subject to deal with in a relationship, and the best way to prevent a problem is to first understand what is happening and then to develop our skills in the areas that lead to it happening. Being “conscious” in our relationships is a major step. |
Most people ask the question “Can men and women just be friends”. The answer to that question is an easy “YES, of course they can”. But the question is flawed. The question should really be “Do my partner and I have the security in our relationship and the emotional tools necessary to successfully maintain friends of the opposite sex (or the sex you are attracted to)? It’s less about whether or not they can exist and how they impact relationships in general, it’s more about how these friendships may impact OUR relationship. It’s about the jealousy that develops because of insecurity, and the feelings of disrespect that occurs when a friendship is handled poorly. |
How often have you heard "relationships require sacrifice" or something close to that? Do they really? When we look up the definition of sacrifice in the dictionary, what do we find? We will see words like "Giving up something valuable," "Killing," "Losing," "Destroying," "Surrendering.“ Should these words be part of our relationships? Maybe there's a better word and a better way. |
People often connect spirituality with religion, but spirituality is a broad concept that incorporates a vast array of very personal ideals. True spirituality would normally involve a deep connection of some kind that many would describe as "sacred" or "transcendent", but that connection may be to anything that makes us feel "alive“ and connected to ourselves and life in general. Spirituality is about who we are, our personal values, our ideals and how we perceive the world. It's merely the conscious recognition of who we are and how we think. |
When it comes to expressing what we want in a relationship, many of us might refer to the elements found in Gary Chapman's book "The 5 Love Languages". All 5 of these "love languages" are important, and can certainly enhance an already good relationship, but studies clearly show that they are not a useful tool for working the kinks out of a struggling relationship. In this event, we will examine not only the love languages, but we will also get a better idea of how to apply them more effectively and also to understand a few different and possibly more effective ways to "measure" the actions of both ourselves and our partner. |