This is for couples only…sorta

This article is ONLY for people in relationships…
or for people who want to be in a relationship…
or for people who just care about relationships.

Well, in that case, I guess it’s for pretty much everyone.

Here’s the premise:

We have become relationally ignorant and it is coming back to haunt us…big time! Sorry….I didn’t mean to upset you, but it’s the truth.

We are all quite aware of the 50 % + divorce rate in the U.S. But did you know that second marriages have approximately a 60% rate and third marriages hover around 70%?

The fallout from divorce extends even further, and more dangerously, as you look from one generation to the next.
Children in a single-parent environment drop out of school, become pregnant, abuse drugs, and get into trouble with the law much more often than their two-parent counterparts. These same children also have a higher incidence of divorce in later years.

All too often divorce breeds dysfunction and more divorce.

Add to our less-than-desirable divorce statistics, and perhaps even more unfortunate, that at least one out of every three women will be physically assaulted by her partner at some point in her lifetime.

What is wrong with this picture?

It’s simple: We have not been taught nor role modeled how to have happy, healthy or lasting relationships.

Think about it…we receive the 3 R’s of reading, writing and arithmetic in our schooling, but the forth R of relationships is no where to be found.

You tell me: Which R is most important?

So, what is a person or a couple to do?

Here’s a start:

The Top Ten Actions for Healthy Relationships

1. Learn How to Communicate Effectively:
Communication is one of the primary cornerstones of ALL healthy relationships.

2. Treat Each Other as Best Friends:
Research shows that couples who treat each other nice and who are friendly during non-conflict times stay together longer and are happier.

3. Commit to Moving “Towards” Rather Than “Away”:
Many people avoid conflict (and sometimes deeper intimacy) and distance themselves when anything becomes uncomfortable.

4. Get Complete With the Past:
Bringing “unfinished business” into a relationship will eventually create unnecessary hardships, conflict and drama.

5. Always Date:
Keep the romance and passion going or the “fire” will go out.

6. Let Your Partner Help You:
You are in a partnership…let go of ego or control issues and allow both of you to benefit from the partnership.

7. Be Authentic:
Always speak your truth with compassion and discernment.

8. Create a Weekly “Check-In”:
Stay current with addressing the challenges and affirming the growth of the relationship.

9. Create a Shared Relationship Vision:
Give the relationship extra value, purpose and direction.

10. Always Practice Effective Listening:
Although this is a core piece of effective communication, it deserves its own separate acknowledgement. Listen to ALL that is being said AND ALL that is NOT being said.

Practice these 10 actions regularly and you can save your relationship from becoming one of “those” statistics.

AND if enough people commit to becoming more relationally intelligent, who knows what impact we could have on the world as a whole.

Think about it!

Merry Christmas Happy New Year to all my customers, Sarah xx