The overwhelming feedback the past few weeks shows just how much we care about the special people in our lives. Thank you for going on this journey with me and for taking Key Steps to ‘be the difference that makes the difference‘ in both your personal and professional relationships.
Last week we covered the fifth and sixth letters of the word ‘RELATIONSHIPS’. Remember them?… TRUST and INTIMACY. Now let’s move on to the next two letters, they are very close to my heart as they form the core of all the work I do. And not doing them creates most conflicts (personal and professional) that I help people resolve on a day-to-day basis…
Nurture Relati’ON’ships (Part 4)
O – Open Communication: Life goes by so fast; it’s easy to see how easily couples can grow apart. Talk to one another. Make a point of telling each other ‘stories’… Whenever something funny, scary, exciting or interesting happens to you or to someone you know, tell each other about it. Keep each other in the loop of life. Your partner should not have to pry things out of you; you should want to share your life with them. If your partner is not communicating with you, ask yourself ‘why’? Maybe all you need to do is make time for each other (away from the TV, kids and hustle of life), ask them how they are doing and then be prepared to… Listen, listen, listen and listen some more. It is important to make communication a habit and really hear each other out (especially during disagreements) or communication will close down again.
N – Needs: Be good to yourself, and then be good to your partner. That’s what love is all about (and it starts with loving yourself). Think about your partner. Will it make him/her happy? Will he/she enjoy it? Consider each other’s feelings. Be attentive and sensitive to each other’s needs, both physically and emotionally. What do they need? And, if you are not sure, ask? And also be prepared to ask for what you need. That way your partner learns to do the same. Never take each other for granted. No matter how long you’ve been together, do not automatically think you can read each other’s mind. Learning about each other is a life-long journey and our needs can and often do change over time.
So this week, choose to take time to share yourself and your day, tell each other stories and be sensitive to each other’s needs. Make this a part of your relationship and together you can…
