Saturday, May 17 2008

Dear Friends

One of the best ways to begin the New Year is with a ceremony of emotional investment in your relationship. Uttering the following statements to one another doesn't mean that you've achieved all that you want to in your relationship. Rather, it is testament to your desire to improve. Your ceremony will go much further than taking an anger management class or an emotional regulation course.  

Say the following to one another, preferably in front of a witness:

1. I commit my best efforts to solving all problems in our mutual best interests and those of our children.

2. I commit my best efforts to the eventual removal of all barriers to intimacy and connection.

3. I commit my best efforts to developing more compassion in our relationship.

4. I will try to understand your deepest motivations, sympathize with any distress, and support you while you reconnect to the Core Value I recognize in you.

5. I will continually keep in mind that I greatly care for you, even when I do not like your behavior.

6. I will listen and try to understand and sympathize with all levels of your perspective, intellectual and emotional.

7. I will tell you whenever I feel that I cannot tell you something without fear of rejection or criticism.

8. In an effort to keep interest alive in our relationship, I agree to be open to discussing new activities and perspectives.

9. I will try to earn your trust.

10. I will make a continuing effort to trust you.

Sincerely,

Steven Stosny

CompassionPower