Reading Corner

Links related to the weekly posts.

 

By Posted on Posted in Reading, Relationships, Successful Relating Tagged with

This week, we wrote about how to deal with differences in your relationships. Here are some articles on the topic of dealing with differences.

How To Navigate Your Differences in a Relationship “It’s not unusual to meet someone, fall for them and then begin to learn that there are certain topics of conversation that always end in a disagreement. After all, we’re all individuals, we can be similar in some ways while being different in others. Compatibility for life and a strong relationship doesn’t mean we need to think about or do everything in the same way. Instead, it means we complement each other, generally work well as a team, enjoy being together and more often than not our two halves are better than the whole.”

Relationship Tips: How to Handle Differences for a Successful Relationship “In a Wall Street Journal article, columnist Elizabeth Bernstein writes about the challenge of marriage between an ardent planner and a partner who prefers to be spontaneous. Perhaps you’ve known people in a marriage like that—or maybe you’re one of them! In my work with couples, I have heard many a planner call their spouse passive-aggressive or the spontaneous one refer to their spouse as a control freak.”

How to Navigate Differences in Your Relationship “But how do you know if a difference is more than something to seek counsel about, but is indeed a deal breaker? Because, the fact is, some are. Deal breakers are those differences that you anticipate will have a consistently divisive impact on your relationship. The two most important words in that sentence being “consistently divisive.” It’s impossible to grow together as a couple if your relationship lacks a foundation of unity.”

Tagged with:

By Posted on Posted in Reading, Relationships, Successful Relating Tagged with , , ,

This week, we wrote about how recognizing and celebrating uniqueness helps your relationships. Here are some different perspectives on the issue of uniqueness in relationships.

Is There Space For Both Personalities In Your Relationship? “Most couples do not understand or appreciate the differences in both partners’ personalities. As a result, they fight over trying to change each other, rather than leveraging each partner’s unique personality to build a strong and healthy relationship.”

Intimate communication through co-creating uniqueness “Dr John Stewart proposes that people can fulfil the deep human need for connection with others in dialogic conversations. At the heart of this process lies the concept of individual ‘uniqueness’. This can be co-constructed by the partners in dialogic conversation, as each takes turns sharing unique aspects of themselves and helping the uniqueness of the other to emerge. Getting to know the other person as a unique human being goes beyond empathy, and enables a sense of intimacy and an enriched relationship based on understanding individual differences.”

Embracing Uniqueness in Marriage: The Key to a Fulfilling Relationship “Marriage is a beautiful union of two individuals who come together to share their lives, dreams, and aspirations. While it’s a journey filled with love and companionship, it’s also a path paved with unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives that each partner brings into the relationship. In the world of marriage, no two people are identical, and therein lies the beauty of it all. Understanding and celebrating the uniqueness of each spouse can be the cornerstone of a happy and enduring marriage.”

Tagged with: , , ,

By Posted on Posted in Core Values, Reading, Relationships, Successful Relating Tagged with

This week, we wrote about why core values are important in all your relationships. This is a subject that many people do not consider, and yet it is so vital to relationships. Here are some writers that have covered it.

Key values in a relationship: Why are they important? “What does “core values” mean? They are your moral North Star: a set of fundamental personal beliefs and principles that establish your standard of behavior and influence how you see the world. When living in the rosy glow of a new relationship, it can feel natural to let your needs slide a little or confuse affection for compatibility. But over time, if you and your new significant other(s) don’t share key values, the incongruity can become detrimental to your relationship.”

Understanding Your Core Values in Relationships (No They’re Not Your Common Interests) “One of the things that people are most confused about and that I get asked a lot of questions about, is the issue of ‘common interests’ and letting superficial things inadvertently get mixed in with your ‘core’ values. Over the past few days I’ve been talking about value and values in relationships, and in this post, I put a clear division between the nice to have stuff that doesn’t actually cause your relationship to endure unless you have the ‘core’ values covered off.”

6 Important Values in a Relationship to Look For “Our morals and values make up a key part of who we are. Values in a relationship are a key part of compatibility. Even though several factors go into finding the right person for you, finding someone who aligns with your morals and values in a relationship — that’s the real test. Our relationship’s core values affect everything from daily decision-making to long-term life plans. Making sure you’re on the same page in terms of core values will help you and your romantic partner build a fulfilling, healthy relationship.”

Tagged with:

By Posted on Posted in Our Process, Presence, Reading, Relationship differences, Relationships, Successful Relating Tagged with , , , ,

This week, we wrote about the five fundamentals of peaceful relationships. Here are three articles that talk about different aspects of these themes.

Equality in Relationships: Fostering Balance and Respect “While the concept of equality may vary in different relationships, it commonly encompasses the principles of fairness, open communication, and empathy. Equality in relationships goes beyond just the surface level. It requires a genuine effort to recognize and appreciate each other as individuals with unique perspectives and experiences. It means valuing each other’s opinions, choices, and contributions, regardless of societal norms or expectations. When both partners actively strive for equality, it creates a solid foundation for a healthy and fulfilling relationship.”

Honor & Respect Are Essential To Marriage “Building a bridge to connect will draw you closer to your partner, not judgment and harsh attitudes. Showing honor and respect will move you away from destructive attitudes toward your partner and help build and maintain a healthy relationship. Honor measures a person’s integrity, ethics, and values, such as honesty, compassion, and kindness. Honor is at the center of who we are as humans and how we interact with others, and it strongly influences our lives and choices.”

I respect and honor my partner’s individuality and uniqueness “It is important to recognize and appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of your partner. Each person has their own set of experiences, beliefs, and values that make them who they are. By respecting and honoring these qualities, you are showing your partner that you value and accept them for who they are. When you acknowledge your partner’s individuality, you are also creating a space for open communication and understanding. You are allowing them to express themselves freely without fear of judgment or criticism. This can lead to a deeper level of intimacy and connection in your relationship.”

Tagged with: , , , ,

By Posted on Posted in Reading, Relationships, Successful Relating Tagged with , ,

This week, we wrote about how to create peaceful relationships by balancing your differences. Most of these articles are about differences in couples’ relationships. However, the same can apply to all relationships.

How to Stay Together When You Are Different From Each Other “The strongest relationships are the ones in which both partners can be themselves. Intending to change the other person or dramatically changing yourself to fit someone else’s ideals dooms couples to failure. When two people have beliefs or habits that differ too much, it creates friction. For example, if one partner is devoutly religious and the other is an all-out atheist, it might be difficult for the couple to find common ground on the way that the universe functions. When a neat-freak has to put up with the habits of a slob, there will be arguments. Opposites may attract, but they don’t always have staying power.”

Exploring Similarities and Differences in Relationships! “Have you ever sat there and just thought about both how different you are from your partner, but also about the common ground you share? Have you wondered if the differences could break you? Do you wonder if your attraction to your partner is because of the similarities or the differences? If so; these are not uncommon questions people think about, especially as relationships are forming. These types of questions also may come up if some rocky ground has been forming in the relationship over time. While relationships can evolve and dissolve over time, today we are going to explore how relationships tend to thrive when we focus on the commonalities or lack thereof.”

How to balance responsibilities in your relationship “You look around and see each thing that needs to be done: laundry, food, errands, and you do them, because, well, they need to get done! Time passes, and slowly you start feeling more and more frustrated and angry: “Why isn’t my partner doing any of this? Why is it always me?” You begin to resent your partner for not helping more, and it’s easy to start believing they merely don’t care that these things need to be done and don’t care about your sanity.”

Tagged with: , ,