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What are you practicing for a great relationship?
When we conducted our study, “Secrets of Great Marriages: Real Truths from Real Couples About Lasting Love,” these are the practices that respondents told us had held them in good stead as they grew their relationships.
As you read through the list, assess your own relationship’s strengths and weaknesses, and congratulate yourself for the areas where you shine. The list can also help you identify where work may still be required from you and your partner.
1. Cultivating vision by asking yourself, “What’s available? What’s possible here?”
2. Risking by growing courage and assertiveness.
3. Showing up for what’s happening.
4. Accepting/letting go/surrendering to what is.
5. Staying on top of incompletions.
6. Flexibility: Being able to change channels.
7. Being able to distinguish truth from imagination.
8. Letting go of guilt and seeing its source.
9. Allowing yourself to receive help and be supported; being a gracious receiver
10. Creating a community of support by accepting physical and emotional support and connection.
11. Practicing gratitude, especially when you’re resentful or feeling self-pity.
12. Practicing compassion for yourself and others when there is mistreatment or unkindness.
13. Being open and vulnerable.
14. Having trusting relationships with others who can see what you can’t.
15. Telling the truth.
16. Refusing to lie, and refusing to lie to yourself.
17. Practicing patience when you are tired of waiting.
18. Regularly checking in with yourself and with your partner.
19. Setting boundaries and stopping before you get to your limit.
20. Not withholding love.
21. Willingness to feel the pain.
22. Creating a close primary relationship through giving and loving abundantly.
23. Living with authenticity.
24. Being willing to feel.
25. Letting others know how you feel.
26. Acknowledging vulnerability, fears, needs, and desires.
27. Dis-identifying with the ego/body.
28. Taking solace and comfort wherever you find it.
29. Creating work that you love, which heals you as you do it.
30. Being involved with your kids’ friends.
31. Outgrowing the need for others’ approval.
32. Not taking on others’ projections.
33. Practicing acceptance of the little pains and losses.
34. Using all experiences in life to deepen spiritual practice.
35. Staying current and complete with everyone in your life, all the time.
36. Trusting the truth of your experience.
37. Refusing to accept a victim identity.
38. Taking responsibility for everything in your life.
39. Refusing to engage in blame of self or others.
40. Staying away from bad therapists.
41. Staying out of the mainstream.
42. Making a big space for the dark shadow, to include your craziness, weakness, helplessness, vulnerability, hatred, ignorance, and prejudice.
43. Taking care of your body.
44. Cultivating self-love and self-acceptance.
45. Practicing humility.
46. Knowing how to replenish and refuel—and doing it.
47. Trusting your body, not your mind.
48. Knowing what feels right, and going after it.
49. Continuing to give no matter what.
50. Working if you can; if you can’t, don’t.
51. Doing whatever it takes to get you through the night.
52. Practicing generosity of spirit.
53. Finding something to be grateful for always.
54. Accepting love from others, even if you doubt you are worthy or deserving.
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A version of this post was previously published on The Mind’s Journal and is republished here with permission.
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Photo credit: Unsplash