- The One and Only: There is more than one person in this world who could be a great partner for us. I don’t believe in soulmates. We can have many love stories in our life story. Healthy relationships are a choice where two people decide to build a life together.
- My Partner is My Everything: Our partners can’t fill every need we have. That’s too much pressure, and we will end up being disappointed. We need to find other friends, connections, and community to enjoy things on our own, and encourage our partners to do the same. Our relationships will be better for it.
- Unconditional Love: Even the strongest relationships have conditions: trust, respect, empathy and communication. It’s okay to expect these from our partners. Acceptance of our partners, including their flaws, is a better way to look at a healthy partnership.
- Right Person, Wrong Time: If the other person has a different path in life, is not divorced yet, wants to travel, etc., they are not the right person for us. Right person, wrong time simply means the wrong person. We need to stop waiting for people to get to where we want them to be.
- The Spark: The chemistry we may feel at the beginning of a relationship is due to our anticipation, possible anxiety, or excitement. Chemistry can be a slow burn. We need to stay curious and keep learning more about the person to see if there could be something there.