Lifetime Partners

Elements of Empowerment from the 27th Transformational Agenda Magazine: ‘Lifetime Partners‘

* note: This is the second of nine articles which together make up the “Self-Analysis Tool”. See directions at end of article.

Lifetime Partners A good life partnership improves all aspects of your well-being—strengthening your health, your mind, and your connections with others. A strong healthy relationship can be incredibly supportive. Because a life partnership is a major relationship investment, the more you put in the more you can get back. These tips can help keep a healthy relationship strong or can repair trust in a relationship that is on the rocks.

• Are you only talking to yourself?

Both verbal and nonverbal communication, loving positive energy, and nurturing
are essential in keeping couples connected and relating well to each other. Even though you may have a pretty good idea of what your partner needs or is thinking, remember that your partner is not a mind reader. Direct communication is always best. Get in the habit of openly expressing your personal needs. Vocalize your needs and wants!

Never Stop Communicating | Rate Yourself – 1 2 3 4 5 +

• Is the fire still burning?

Regular loving touch is a fundamental part of human existence. Studies have shown that affectionate touch actually boosts the body’s level of oxytocin, a hormone that influences bonding and attachment. Regular affectionate touch such as holding hands, hugging, or kissing can be an important part of building a lasting and stable romantic relationship. Also, know that stress will characterize your relationship if your partner is feeling unfulfilled sexually.

Physical Intimacy is Important | Rate Yourself – 1 2 3 4 5 +

• Do you nurture?

It is critical in a life partnership to ensure adequate quality time together. You simply cannot allow the stress of children, demanding jobs, and other obligations to push quality time to the curb. Commit to spending time together on a regular basis, doing things that you both enjoy, or trying something new. Without meaningful quality time, communication and understanding will start to erode.

Spend Quality Time Together | Rate Yourself – 1 2 3 4 5 +

• Have you put it in writing?

Establish a solid foundation for your relationship with a detailed and explicitly negotiated written agreement that clearly establishes how parties are to be treated. Use this agreement to detail expectations, to set ground rules and limits, to decide when and whether to have children, and to determine how you will interact with your partner. We use written agreements when expectations are important. What agreement is more important than a life partnership?

Create a Relationship Agreement | Rate Yourself – 1 2 3 4 5 +

• Do you fight fairly?

The key to a strong relationship is to confront conflict and to work towards compromise. In a strong relationship, partners are safe to express things that bother them without fear of retaliation or punishment. To keep a relationship strong, both people need to feel they’ve been heard. The goal is not to win the argument or conflict, but to resolve it with respect and love.

Respectfully Resolve Conflict | Rate Yourself – 1 2 3 4 5 +

• Are you in the position to love another person?

Love is being firmly committed to aiding another to realize their potential as an empowered adult, and a loving life partner is a tremendous asset for achieving a high level of empowerment.

Love Deeply, and Know that Love is an Action Word – a verb. | Rate Yourself – 1 2 3 4 5 +

It is a true blessing to find someone with whom to share this journey called life. Life partnerships are not to be taken for granted; appreciate them! Vocalize your wants and needs to your partner to help ensure a fulfilled partnership. Not in a life partnership, yet desire one? While single, concentrate on your personal growth and become even more empowered. Your future partner will be grateful and will be attracted to your greatness.

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