One of the core skills vital to a successful relationship is that of listening. This is the case with our intimate partner, our children and anyone else we are in connection with. I also think most of us are not very good at it. The good news is that this is a skill that anyone can learn and deepen.
In the important relationships in my life I don’t want to be only good enough. I want to be the best I can be. I refuse to settle for mediocracy in my marriage or in my parenting. At the same time, I don’t want to strive to be perfect. I aim to be in the space in between ‘good enough’ and ‘perfect’.
This is the second in a series of interviews of people I really admire to get some insights into how to balance relationships and parenting. This week an interview with a dear friend and colleague, Robert Kržišnik, author and NVC trainer from Slovenia who currently lives in an eco-village in Israel.
One area that couples can struggle with is agreeing how to raise the kids. It is probably the biggest ‘project’ you will undertake as a couple and it makes for a much smoother life for you and for your children when you agree on the fundamentals. Here is a 7 step approach to your Parenting Manifesto.
Most of our articles are focused on the couple relationship of parents. I don't want to overlook children in our lives and an area I will explore further is about how to bring your parenting approaches to alignment. To get in the mood I want to share a famous poem from 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran.
Communication is essential for a healthy and thriving relationship - both quantity and the quality. Finding time to talk and listen is one thing, but if you miss some important skills of expressing yourself and listening, then you can sometimes cause more harm than good.
Anyone who is in an intimate relationship has undoubtedly explored together the question of what love is. We have developed something we call the Five Elements of Love. Presence. Kindness. Compassion. Joy. Freedom. We found it easily accessible and everyone we work with enjoys the clarity it brings.
Having support enables us to more easily handle the challenges of life and love and so, more likely to thrive, rather than simply survive. More and more people are moving to urban areas and this is changing the face of our communities and requires us to redesign how we approach our support systems.
Do you ever yearn for a nostalgic past - a time you could go for a romantic date without arranging child care or when you make love without listening for footsteps outside your bedroom? Was life really better before the kids? Is nostalgia keeping you stuck? Nostalgia is both seductive and selective.
Coming out of a relationship and work crisis, we decided to take control of the direction of our life. We realised we were riding life's waves without any idea where we wanted those waves to take us or which wave to catch. We mostly enjoyed the journey, but our life was not where we it wanted to be.
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The Connection Kit is a practical and fun way to bring you closer as a couple. Currently available in English, German and Romanian.
