Create a Good Relationship with Chemistry, Compatibility, Communication, and Commitment

To create love: be true to yourself; know yourself and listen to what your partner is really saying; choose someone you're attracted to, someone who fits you; know your role in the relationship; make a firm commitment and love actively.

Chemistry

It helps to be "into each other." Ask yourself: is this person someone you really want to spend your time with; is he truly interested in you for who you are? If he takes you for granted now, he'll use and discard you. In addition, sustaining a relationship because "he's such a good person" can be a formula for heartache for both of you. Lack of chemistry may lead to ambivalence and this is poison for a relationship. On the other hand, chemistry is a poor foundation for a long-term relationship; it's great to have but it's only a start. The infatuation will end. Don't commit yourself to a relationship without the following six ingredients.

Compatibility

Compatibility is a simple requirement that we often ignore because we think love will solve our problems. It won't. Are you on the same page? You must know the requirements you aren't willing to compromise in a relationship; and then you've got to make sure your partner agrees with you. Hoping that he'll change his mind later on is unrealistic; it's not likely to happen. Issues you need to resolve early in a relationship include finances, children, marriage and spirituality.

Communication

Do you really know how to listen? Listening is not a passive endeavor, it requires an active desire to know what others want to say and mean. Is your partner more emotional or more thoughtful? Knowing how to honor a person's feelings and to respect someone's thoughts is an important aspect of communication. Do you know how to get your point across without blaming or humiliating your partner? Speaking respectfully and honestly is as crucial as listening. Equally important, does your partner communicate well?

Authenticity

Do you know who you are, how you feel and what you want? Unless you're willing to stand up for yourself, you can't create a good relationship. If you're a people pleaser, if you deny your feelings until you explode or if you repeatedly sabotage relationships, you aren't being authentic. Authenticity is speaking the truth about yourself. It requires that you love yourself enough to say yes or no and mean it. If you're authentic, you recognize and acknowledge your shortcomings. Only by seeing yourself honestly can you see your partner honestly. Lack of authenticity makes relationships roller-coasters of deception and emotion.

Identity in the Relationship

Along with authenticity, identity in the relationship is a crucial marriage and courtship ingredient that's often overlooked. Who is masculine and who is feminine in the relationship? Who thinks or feels more? It doesn't work to assume answers to these questions. Most couples still want the man to lead and the woman to follow. However, we live in an age which acknowledges women's leadership and men's emotions. Knowing which role is true for both you and your partner will help you avoid power struggles. Sharing the role of leadership seldom works; a primary leader is needed in love. But, leadership does not mean dominance. Power is shared and each partner must understand the source of his or her power. Masculine power is different from feminine power.

Commitment

Without commitment no relationship exists. The single biggest cause of failed relationships is not money, chemistry, compatibility or even communication; it's ambivalence - a lack of commitment. Commitment is a testament of love.

Love

Love is the essential ingredient of a good relationship. A partial definition of love is the feeling that one has for another. A more complete definition includes one's treatment of another; love respects, honors, cherishes, forgives and is compassionate. Unless you actively love, the feelings you have are irrelevant. It's important that your partner love you also, but look first at your own actions.

(c) Copyright - David Cantu, Life Coach Austin. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.