Doing A “Relationship Inventory” Helps Build Sustainable Romantic and Sexual Intimacy
The overall theme of my blog posts is about revising what we think a psychologically healthy life is, in today’s 21st Century interconnected culture. That is, what psychological health and resiliency look like in careers and organizations, and in intimate relationships. Some of my earlier posts have described features of healthy relationships in this new era, based on new thinking and research studies. And, that our culture undermines the emotional attitudes and behavior that support connected, energized intimate relationships – one’s that don’t go south after that early rush of excitement and passion fades.
In this and future posts I’ll describe more about what supports a positive relationship, emotionally, sexually and spiritually. What won’t are the fantasized portrayals and simplistic formulas promoted by the advice and technique books and magazine articles. Most of them don’t work anyway, and can do more harm than good because they can make couples feel inadequate if, for example, they can’t find the right words to reflect back to their partner; or they discover that the new sexual technique or tantric exercise just doesn’t arouse them.
This post is about a frequently overlooked first step towards a sustainable relationship with your current or future partner. Couples I’ve worked with find it helpful because it builds the self-reflection and self-awareness you need for growing and evolving yourself in your relationship capacities. I call this first step doing a “Relationship Inventory.” With it, you can review, understand, and learn from your past relationships; and then face forward with greater clarity and capacity for creating and sustaining emotional and sexual intimacy in the present and future.
Begin by making a list of all your significant romantic relationships. For each, Read more…
Midlife Conflict and Renewal, Modern Love, Sex & Relationships, Psychological health in a post-globalized world
