Much of life is about relationships.  People have a need to be in a relationship – relationships of all kinds.  In any relationship it is important that it be the best it can be.

Of course no relationship is perfect and there is room for improvement.  This article invites you to pick a relationship — any relationship — and evaluate what might make it better for you.

Step One: Pick a person with whom you desire an enhanced relationship.  This relationship can be one of romance, parental, children, siblings, friend, co-worker, etc…

Step Two: Identify the following feelings that exist with regard to this person.

Unappreciated.   Excluded.    Confronted.     Smothered.    Exploited   Inferior.    Judged.

Unsupported.     Put Down.   Separate.   Empty.    Not Heard.    Other?

Step Three:  Which of the following descriptors apply to you?  These personal factors block what you want in the relationship.   

Withdrawing from situations.    Lack of patience with yourself and others.

Having difficulty with forgiveness.   Need to be right.   Keeping yourself too busy.

Fear of taking risks.   Do not follow your heart.   Fear of rejection.   Doubting yourself.

You stay in relationships too long that do not work.    You become possessive.

You have an excessive need for approval.   You give your power away to others.

You feel insecure.   You over-analyze.   You are never satisfied.

Step Four:  Which of the above factors do you want to work on?

Step Five:  Which of the following factors might help you in this process?

Have more courage.   Be more generous.   Have better balance.   Be more spontaneous.

Show more compassion.   Trust more.   Be creative.   Become more energized.

Reach out better.   Be more fun.   Love yourself better.    Ask for what you want.   

Create win – win situations.   Release resentment.   Take the high road.  

Meet with a quality therapist who can help you put together a game plan.

Every person desires to have rich relationships that are trustworthy, respectful, appropriately caring, rewarding, functional, and sustainable.  Such relationships can be developed if you, respected reader, are willing to do what is necessary to make them happen.

I hope this article helps you to look at and analyze the various relationships in your life and encourages you to do what it takes to make them better.

Dr. Stathas is a Counseling Psychologist, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, in the Lake Oconee area.  He is the Founder of the Stathas Life Development Center.  He can be reached at 706-473-1780. Email:Stathas@plantationcable.net.  Web site: drstathas.googlepages.com