Page 343 - The Truth Landscape Format 2020 1st Draft 19_01_2020

Extremely needy people tend to be high maintenance in a love relationship, sometimes even in a simple friendship. It's not much fun to realise the person you
care about is constantly keeping score. It begins to feel as though you'll never pass their ‘test’. True love isn’t this draining and painful. There needs to be
plenty of room for each partner to stretch, and grow. So, how does your relationship measure up in the healthy stakes? How healthy is it? After examining
whether you're mostly happy and content, or mostly sad and worried, you might want to consider the basic ingredients or characteristics of a healthy
relationship:

• What we expect from the relationship is fair and realistic.
• We are happy with each another, as we are.
• Each of us listens to the other, hears and cares.
• There is ample room for each of us to have a separate life/self.
• We know we are two separate people who choose to be together and grow/nurture a wonderful, loving relationship.
• We can argue or disagree, and remain friends.
• Each of us has come to rely on the other, because we value our relationship as a top priority.
• Mutual communication and sharing is valued by each of us.
• Neither of us must be something or someone other than what we are, to please the other.
• Total honesty is a shared value, as well as kindness and sensitivity toward one another's feelings.
• Our relationship works well now, not as an unfulfilled goal to be hoped for in the future.
• We are both committed to the relationship, and to one another.
• Neither of us should need to threaten to leave.
• We love and care for one another, unconditionally

How many of those strengths does your relationship have? Remember, if yours seems to be lacking, you don't have to settle for ordinary, when you deserve
extra-ordinary.

Improve Your Love Relationships

• Talk with your partner openly and honestly.
• Don't sacrifice yourself for the relationship.
• Take responsibility for your feelings.
• Know you can only change yourself.
• Be yourself always.
• Know your intentions behind your words.
• Communicate your wants and needs to your partner. Page343
• Accept them as they are.
• Let go of absolute value judgments.