Making the Most of Your Relationship

This is a publication about relationships. The purpose of this manual is to identify, assess, and provide some essential skills for promoting functional, successful, and growth oriented associations. Frequently, gender issues and differences are provided as an argument for numerous couples' inability to get along and to enjoy a rewarding and fulfilling relationship. While it is true that there are significant physiological and social differences between the genders, the question remains: why can't we just get along? In order to address such fundamental issues, this manual will attempt to help you to confront some of your own insecurities, fantasies, misconceptions and other issues which may contribute to negative patterns of behavior, as well as a lack of growth and satisfaction within the relationship. Subsequently, you may be able to also attain an in-depth, explicit and more meaningful perspective of yourself. This is crucial because to attract and sustain a healthy relationship with that "right" individual, one must also persist in being the "right" companion for that central person in our relationship.

The focal point of this publication is on individuals who are seeking relationships, working on sustaining and improving their present relationships or deciding whether to continue or end their current association. First of all, relationships essentially involve two individuals who should understand a simple truth, which is; the nature of the relationship that each partner has with him / herself often determines the overall quality of their relationship with each other. It is highly improbable to harbor strong negative feelings about yourself and then promote a healthy relationship with someone else.

This guide attempts to effectively respond to numerous questions, conflicts, issues, misconceptions and dilemmas, as well as provides alternative solutions. However, the guide does not attempt to provide universal remedies. Instead, it provides a platform from which you may launch to formulate some of your own inquiries, answers and solutions.

You will also be introduced to a variety of exercises and other tasks such as brain teasers, quizzes, worksheets, completion drills, reality confrontation and other instruments. These drills will provide individuals and partners with opportunities to examine, compare, assess, amuse and most important, learn more about themselves, each other, and the status of their relationship.

From a psychological perspective, this guidebook will help you to understand that acknowledging, resolving, and coming to terms with your own emotional baggage is a major step toward having a healthy relationship with yourself and with others. Many people mistakenly believe that they will find their true self in a relationship but, according to Erikson, only those who have a clear sense of who they are can withstand this blending of identities and not feel threatened or insecure. Besides, the inability to achieve a clear vision of one's self will likely result in shallow relationships or solitude.