Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
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Romantic Relationships
It would be easier if we had a manual.
Like lemmings going over a cliff, salmon swimming upstream, and other seemingly irrational and impossible phenomena of nature, we all tend to pair up at various points in our lives. Sometimes it seems as though we find the same person time and time and again and proclaim; "Are there no princes or princesses out there among the frogs I keep on kissing!"
The process would be much simpler if we had a care and handling manual to exchange with every person we meet. I mean, even a ten-dollar electric clock comes with a do's and don'ts list. In the absence of such a guidebook, it's hoped that the following information will provide some help as you negotiate that sometimes treacherous process called "relationship development."
Twenty Do's and Don'ts of a Functional Relationship - by Eve Bernshaw
1. Who you think you are is important. Like attracts like. Do you like who you are?
2. What you want in a relationship is important, and when you are willing to ask for it, you will be able to create it. But only ask for what you want when you are clear about what it is. Until then, don't go around demanding things you just think you should have.
3. We get exactly what we focus on. The problem or the solution. We make a choice between them with every decision we make.
4. Tell yourself the truth about what you want, not what others (family, friends, spouse) say you should have.
5. Tell everyone else your truth about what you want. Don't be afraid to share your vision and dreams with those you love.
6. You are not defined by your relationships unless you choose to be. Consider what it says about you if you deed over you soul to one.
7. Interdependent (two independent people) relationships are the only ones that work, long term.
8. Truth is the first thing necessary to create trust in our relationships. Respect is earned from trust, and love is earned from respect. Intimacy is the gift we get when we risk telling the truth.
9. Fear of intimacy is fear of the truth. Your truth is better for you than someone else's. Just get to know what it is, so you can finally own it, and speak it..
10. If your relationship is not getting better, it is probable getting worse. Life is dynamic and nothing ever stays the same.
11. Every relationship is unique. It takes what it takes to work. If you want it to work, you have to work it. No shortcuts. No 50/50 deals.
12. It's not your job to fix your mate, and it's not his or her job to fix you. Take the relationship and what your mate says at face value and stop reading into it what you'd like to hear. We can work with what's real. It's impossible to deal with what's not real.
13. Unconditional love is an inside job. If you haven't gotten it by now, guess what...start working from within. When you can give it to yourself, you'll be ready to give it to someone else. If you can give it to someone else, you'll recognize it when it's given to you.
14. If you both are committed to creating a functional relationship, agree to start doing it today, without any judgments about the past. Be willing to work in the solution and let go of your need to control the outcome, moment to moment, one day at a time. Joy can only be experienced in the present moment
15. Most of our fears about what may happen in this relationship are really fears we experienced in past relationships, and have nothing to do with this person. Come to grips with what's real and what's Memorex! .
16. When in an argument, ask yourself Does this really PASS THE SO WHAT TEST? For you to be right does the other person have to be wrong? Think about it. Life is short. Don't waste it on arguments that have no meaning or purpose. You can always agree to disagree if you need to. Then laugh about it, and go on to the next thing. Start observing your need to argue as just another dysfunctional, immature habit that needs to be broken.
17. When we finally learn to say we are sorry (at 3 or 93) we get to finally hear we are O.K. To error is human, and there is great virtue in all forgiveness, ourselves included. The best way to teach our children this lesson is by watching us demonstrate it.
18. Any negative, hurtful or sarcastic remark is abusive. Like a sharp knife, each word will carve out a chunk of a loving relationship that can never grow back. Please consider the source and outcome of your remarks, before you open you mouth to tell your truth.
19. Never let a day go by without saying and showing how much your relationship and partner mean to you. Never take a moment for granted. Express how grateful you are for your good fortune, however meek or humble it may be. Appreciation and gratefulness have magic in them. It seems the more we express them, the more reasons we are given to say thank you.
20. To have a functional relationship you have to be willing to risk loosing it everyday, by telling your truth. If you don't feel free to tell your truth, start asking yourself why you think it's so important to stay, and what else you are willing to loose besides your self-esteem.
For starters, you can ask your mate to tell their truth, and be willing to accept it at face value, without judgment. Now you both get to finally know the truth, and, if you each want a relationship based on what's real for both of you.
.....for optimum results, start doing this in the first five minutes of meeting anyone.
Ten Ways to Blow a Relationship
What do you do when you've attracted a lovely person into your life and now you're terrified you're going to blow it? Or, terrified it's going to end. Arm yourself with the following strategies, and you're sure to blow it in a relationship right from the start.
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1. Assume the person is your soul mate immediately upon meeting or shortly
thereafter.
Look for signs that faith has brought you together and be amazed by the correlations in
your lives.
2. Forget about your life, your friends, your self-care. When you
have a soul mate, why
would you need a life outside of the relationship?
3. Reveal everything, and test your partner with your worst behavior. Let it all hang out. After all, if this is truly your soul mate, he or she will love you no matter what.
4. Have sex right away. If you are meant to be together for a lifetime, you might as well get started on the fun part right away.
5. Ignore anything about your partner that does not mesh with your values, lifestyle, or belief system. True love can conquer such insignificant differences.
6. Do lots of drama together. Job, family, and life crises are great
ways to establish a
relationship and test whether or not you are meant to be together.
7. Spend as much time together as possible. When it's true love, you can't bear to let your partner out of your sight.
8. Ignore behavior that crosses your boundaries or hurts your feelings. It's true love, so it's ok.
9. Lavish a huge amount of attention on your partner or expect a huge amount of attention to be lavished on you. How else would you act if you finally found your soul mate?
10. Push the relationship forward and demand that it go deeper, in spite of where your partner is emotionally. You have the right to have the relationship be exactly how you want it to be and your soul mate owes you that.
Suggestions for Improving Communications Skills in Relationships
Top Ten Listening Tips from About Marriage ("Sheri & Bob Stritof - About.com Marriage Guide")May 17, 2002
One of the main reasons couples divorce (or break up if they have not
been married) is because they lost the ability or never had the skills
to communicate with one another. Poor listening skills lead to the breakdown
in communication in a marriage. Here are some tips
on how to be a more effective and life-giving listener.
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1. Don't Interrupt
Let your spouse finish what they are saying. If this is a problem and you interrupt a lot, find someway to remind yourself to keep quiet. Some people put their chin in their hand as a sign to themselves to not speak till their mate is finished talking.
2. Keep an Open Mind
Don't judge. Jumping to conclusions or looking for the right or wrong in what is being said prevents you from listening. Think before you say anything in response, especially if it is an emotional reaction.
3. Make Listening a Priority
Listen without planning on what you are going to say in response. Let go of your own agenda. Be aware that you need to listen. Make eye contact. Pay attention by not looking at the TV or glancing at the newspaper or finishing up a chore.
4. Use Feedback Technique
Let your partner know that you heard what they said by using a feedback technique and restating what was said. Say something like "I hear you saying ...." Be open to the possibility that you didn't hear clearly what your spouse was saying.
5. Watch Non-Verbals
Be aware of non-verbal signs and clues - both yours and those of your mate. These include shrugging your shoulders, tone of voice, crossing arms or legs, nodding, eye contact or looking away, facial expressions (smile, frown, shock, disgust, tears, surprise, rolling eyes, etc.), and mannerisms (fiddling with papers, tapping your fingers). 55% of the message is delivered through non-verbal signs.
6. Blocks to Listening
Try not to fall into these patterns of listening:
mind reading, rehearsing, filtering, judging, daydreaming, advising, sparring, being right,
changing the subject, stonewalling, and placating.
7. Stay Focused
Focus on the main points that your spouse is talking about. It's ok to ask questions to clarify what you thought you heard.
8. Gender Differences
Although not true for everyone, men and women generally communicate differently. Being aware can enhance your listening skills. Men often share because they want to give information or solve a problem. Women tend to talk to connect with someone or to get information. Women usually talk more about relationships than men do. Men are
often more concerned about details than women.
9. Show Respect
Respect your spouse's point of view, even if you disagree with what is being said.
10. Advice & Talking
Don't give advice unless asked for it. You can't listen and talk at the same time. Feelings are neither right nor wrong.
How to Rebuild Trust:
When infidelity, lies or broken promises invade a marriage (or romance), the trust between husband and wife (or romantic partners) is severely damaged. However, this doesn't mean that the marital relationship (or romance) can't be saved. Here's How:
1. Make a decision to love by trying to let go of the past. Stop obsessing about it.
2. Decide to forgive or to be forgiven.
3. Show that the errant behavior is gone by changing behaviors. That means no more secrets.
4. Together, set specific goals.
5. Both of you must renew your commitment to your marriage (or romance) and one another.
6. The wounded spouse (or partner) must share his or her pain. The other must acknowledge the hurt caused by the devastating experience.
7. Listen completely to one another and with your heart, not just
your head.
8. Be honest.
9. Avoid using words that can trigger conflict. Use non-blaming 'I' statements and don't say always, must, never, or should.
10. Take responsibility for your own actions and decisions.
11. Be open to seeking counseling to have a better insight into what caused the trust to be broken.
12. Remind one another that you each deserve open and honest answers to your questions about the affair or betrayal.
1. Recognize that rebuilding trust takes time. It won't happen over night.
2. It's okay to remember the incidents and the betrayal. You may not forget it, but the pain will eventually go away.
3. Be aware of your feelings. - http://www.dvirc.org.au/whenlove/index.htm
5. How do I know if I'm in an Abusive Relationship?/Dealing With an Abusive Relationship: (scan in material)
6. At the End of Relationship:
How to End a Relationship
The ending of a relationship is rarely easy even for the person who wants the romance to end. Here are some ideas to consider to make the transition a bit easier:
1. End the relationship cleanly. Nothing makes a breakup worse than to end it in one of the following ways:
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a. Letting the person down easy
b. Just distancing (not answering phone call or e-mails; spending less time together without explanation)
c. Being so inconsiderate that the other person ends the relationship
d. Asking for "space" when your real intention is to end the romance
2. Try to state as clearly as possible your reasons for ending the relationship. While painful, everyone has the right to end a romance that is no longer working. Withholding information "to not hurt your ex-partner's feelings" usually extends the process of breaking up because they sense that they are not getting the truth.
3. Try not to assign blame at the end of a relationship. Sometimes romances don't work simply because there was a bad "fit" that you can discover only after spending time together. Creating a "good guy" and "bad guy" usually generates anger, and nothing keeps two people connected in a negative way like anger or loathing.
4. Remember the good and bad times. Focus on the good may cause you to idealize the relationship while focus on the bad will sour you for future romances. In either case, paying attention to the extremes will make it difficult to move on.
5. Give yourself time to heal and reflect. People frequently jump into the next romance as a way of healing from the last one and find themselves choosing a similar person and/or recreating the patterns that made the old relationship unpleasant. If you find yourself saying things like, "Why do I always attract the bad ones?", "I always end up getting hurt!" or "It's hard for me to be alone.", then you may need to reevaluate how you go about doing relationships. By doing so, you'll increase the chances dramatically that the next romance will be "the one."
