In the face of all the dissonance and conflict in our world, it is easy to become despondent and to feel hopeless. We are not powerless! Peace is a real, livable and discernible experience. Every time you respond peacefully, you raise the chances of peace.
The sense of connection between two people is one of those things that we don’t see, but when we look at it, it has a tangible nature. The relationship we have with one person is unique; it is not like the relationship we have with any other person.
Equality means treating another person as a complete human being, and respect is equality in action. When you accept the uniqueness of expression of another, you are showing respect.
This week was our wedding anniversary and it brought us to reflect on what we have learned about the potentials of all relationships from the experience of ours. Here are our musings on just that for our blog this week.
We believe that relationships, deep ones, with family, friends and romantic partners are the arena for the realization of peace. In learning that it is possible to live this way with those we are close to, we become ever more capable of treating the greater group in the same way
Relationships, all relationships, only thrive when you take the time to keep them alive, vital and present. Often, long term relationships with romantic partners, family or friends, get taken for granted, become background to the challenges and daily occurrences we all deal with in life.
You don’t need to feel tension around differences when you are on the same side and both want the best possible outcome. Even when handling bigger issues, know you can find a way to handle things that will make both of you feel right about it.
We do well with deep listening and lack of interruptions when consciously working to solve something. And yet in day to day conversations we encounter a different behavior. Not only do we burst into each other’s talking, but we each point out the other is doing it and feel irritated.
How do you develop trust in a relationship? Regardless of how another behaves, there is always an important option open to each of us, and that is to be trustworthy. We can bring the behavior of how it is when someone can be trusted into each and every relationship.
Compromise is often touted as an important part of a good relationship, but it is never necessary. You can find a solution or make a decision without either person giving anything up, and this applies in many, many relationships, not just couples.