I deal with many clients who have real problems understanding how relationships work. Even with experience, they often make the same mistakes over and over again.
Being involved romantically with another human being is to use a famous quote “the best and worst of times”. We proclaim our love, often far too quickly, and make irrational decisions “in the name of love” that we probably would not in any other area of our lives. Being and falling in love (There is a difference) is one of the best feelings one can experience. We believe we can take on the world and our own world is in order. Though when it goes wrong, things swing quickly in the other direction. Such is this thing called love.
We would all love to stay in that heady world that we experience in the dawn of a new relationship. That time when there is full attention emotionally and physically on and from the other person, creating an image and projecting this out as if the two people involved are the only couple in the world! There is no gauge as to how long this lasts but eventually it will change and the relationship will become more routine in nature. This is the time when many people have difficulty adjusting to the realistic image of the person they are now confronted with. It does not need to be negative but it is different. Maybe for the first time, flaws and imperfections are noticed and the initial romance takes on a more realistic nature.
How we deal with this new image will generally determine how long the relationship will last or if it will indeed last. But to be able to move forward with someone with all their faults and imperfections and to have your own accepted is the greatest feeling of all.
I have always liked the following in terms of love: “Love isn’t a noun or a feeling, it is a verb and an action. It’s a constant choice”. It takes hard work and full commitment with the realisation that things will change as the relationship develops. If love truly is a verb, there is no “too late” to start doing what you have to. Although feelings will accompany love, and although sex will be a part of that, a lasting, healthy relationship cannot be based on these things. Although real love is often accompanied by strong feelings, love does not equate with the sense of floating on clouds. Unlike the type of love that movies, television, and songs portray, people in love do not always feel gooey or comfortable around each other, and in fact, sometimes dislike each other.
A relationship would not last long on emotions. As a good example, Stephen Covey cites an encounter with a client in his excellent book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. A client asks him what he should do about his marriage. He says that he has tried everything and that there is no love left between him and his wife. The client asked Covey what he should do about his wife and kids. “Have you tried loving her?” asks Covey. “I’ve told you, there’s no love anymore,” says the client. Covey reiterates, “But have you tried loving her?” The client begins to get slightly angry before Covey goes on to explain: “Love is a verb, it is an action. You must do things for her, listen to her, be there for her. It’s not about what happens in return but what you do to love her.” In fact, knowledge is the basis of a healthy relationship and can be seen as the basis of true love. Knowing about the person’s personality and character is very important. This gives us an idea how they will tick in given situations. How many of us take the time to gather this? This knowledge, of course, can only be gained over a period of time and with the experience of being with that person in different situations, good and bad. Love is a choice. It is a commitment. In the world we live in, it is very easy to throw “love” away, thinking that the next partner is just around the corner. It is easy to throw away something seemingly substantial based on assumption and lack of communication.
True love transcends this… People who truly love each other will see the relationship as something long-lasting and will see difficulties as a way of making the union stronger. The following quote sums it up perfectly:
“Love is a verb. It’s an action requiring your involvement and your active participation. You cannot sit back and expect the world will serve it to you. You cannot expect that your relationship will continue to provide love while you’re not putting in any effort. Love has to be earned and must be continually fought for.” Stephen Covey.
No-one else can tell you the signs of true love. When someone says “I want true love”, only they can know precisely what that means to them. It will be different for each and every one of us but the basics are the same: it is not about dominating, taking and demanding; it is about caring, sharing, nurturing and giving. I always relate to my clients that the basis of a relationship is based on four pillars: Trust, Honesty, Respect but above all Mutual Benefit.
Dr. Nicholas Jenner, a therapist, coach, and speaker, has over 20 years of experience in the field of therapy and coaching. His specialty lies in treating codependency, a condition that is often characterized by a compulsive dependence on a partner, friend, or family member for emotional or psychological sustenance. Dr. Jenner’s approach to treating codependency involves using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, a treatment method that has gained widespread popularity in recent years. He identifies the underlying causes of codependent behavior by exploring his patients’ internal “parts,” or their different emotional states, to develop strategies to break free from it. Dr. Jenner has authored numerous works on the topic and offers online therapy services to assist individuals in developing healthy relationships and achieving emotional independence.
