| We're all individuals with our own collection of | | | | esteem in each other through genuine |
| personal traits, talents and habits. There seems to be | | | | encouragement, praises and compliments. |
| a tendency in some relationships for partners to | | | | - Cultivate communication through talking. The silent |
| focus on the one perceived negative habit or | | | | treatment only promotes assumptions. Talk about all |
| attribute rather than the whole of a person. Too | | | | aspects of your relationship with your partner. Try to |
| much energy and effort focused on the negative can | | | | talk to each other in normal tones even during |
| only lead to festering and an eventual blind eye to all | | | | moments of disagreement. There's nothing to be |
| the positive aspects of your partner. A relationship | | | | gained from a shouting match. |
| will struggle to progress if these differences are met | | | | - The oft-expressed statement "He or she makes |
| with disdain. A healthy relationship needs acceptance | | | | me so mad," is just a lame excuse for a lack of self |
| of these differences and a fostering of mutual | | | | control. "Mad" or "angry" is in reality a choice. Learn |
| respect. Consider the following suggestions. | | | | how to choose your reaction and exercise some self |
| - Avoid always looking for the faults in your partner | | | | control. |
| and focus on the things that are good. | | | | - Lastly, try to put the interests and well being of |
| - Be willing to overlook mistakes and accept the fact | | | | your partner above your own or in other words, be |
| that we are only human. | | | | selfless. If partners in a relationship do this for each |
| - Quit trying to mold your partner into something you | | | | other, love and respect will flourish. |
| wish they were. When it comes to people there is no | | | | Progress in any relationship requires work, effort, |
| such thing as custom order. | | | | devotion, acceptance of differences and a sincere |
| - Encourage development of talents and interests in | | | | desire to see it through even during the not so good |
| your partner. Be supportive in those efforts. Build self | | | | times. |