Live
consciously. Create a life that you love. Attract the loving relationship
that is "right" for you.
Today’s
Topic: Relationship Resources: Why don’t we use them?
Dear
friends,
Valentine’s
Day is upon us. Whether we’re in or out of a relationship
at this moment in time, this “day for lovers” is a prompt
for everyone to reflect on their relationship to love.
Let’s get past the commercialism of this day and use it as
an opportunity to re-commit ourselves to the expression of love
in our lives. Love is not limited to romantic relationships. When
we open ourselves to love, we open ourselves to our connection with
ALL beings.
Shirley
Vollett, BSW
Life & Relationship Coach
Something to think about… |
We
all need help and support in our relationships, and it’s not
beneath our dignity to ask. In fact, the most courageous among us
are the ones who can most easily ask for help.
-- Barry & Joyce Vissell
Resources abound for those who are committed to the goal of
relationship. |
Dating
books, internet dating services, matchmakers, introduction services
and personal ads all seek to help people connect with prospective partners.
And if you need assistance in developing the skills and attitudes than
will help you be successful in relationship, there are many self-help
books, workshops, courses, therapists, counselors and coaches to choose
from.
However despite the importance of a primary relationship
to most singles, it seems that many are reluctant to seek assistance
in finding a partner. I have seen many resourceful, pro-active individuals
hesitate to reach out for help or guidance in this important area.
Yet these same individuals wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to
seek help in relation to their work or business, or a problem with
their car.
What
stops singles from utilizing the many resources that are available? |
For many years,
I was one of those singles who failed to reach out for help. I floundered
for more than a decade, making poor choices in relationship and wondering
why things weren’t working out for me.
Eventually I took
the step of 1) admitting there must be something I didn’t know
about having a successful relationship and 2) seeking help from someone
who did know. Taking that step to seek help led me out of my confusion
and into a relationship which has lasted more than 20 years.
I have
observed four attitudes that can keep singles stuck in doing-it-alone
and failing to access the help and support that is available:.
1)
I don’t want to admit that I don’t know. |
Are
you a highly accomplished professional or business person, who is
very good at what you do? The more successful you are in your work
life, the greater the difficulty you may have in admitting that
you don’t know how to succeed in relationship. It simply doesn’t
fit your successful self-image.
Your
thinking may go, “If I’m so successful in my work then
I SHOULD know how to be equally successful in relationship.”
However, professional success doesn’t always translate into
relationship success. It takes humility to admit what you don’t
know, especially if you think you SHOULD.
2) Only losers need help. |
This
obstacle goes hand and hand with #1. Many singles fear that others
see them as losers in the relationship game. What’s worse,
they may secretly see themselves as losers too.
What would people think if I have to get help to find a relationship?
Shouldn’t I just “know” how to do this?
What’s the matter with me anyway?
The reluctance to ask for help is widespread, and is not confined
to singles. I read about a study of married couples, who had sought
marital counseling because of relationship difficulties. I found
it astonishing that couples had waited (on average) SEVEN YEARS
from the onset of the problem, before they sought help. So this
reluctance to admit problems and get help has big costs in or out
of relationship!
In
our culture it is generally viewed as smart to seek help in areas
where you lack expertise. No one would discourage you from seeking
a doctor if you were ill, a mechanic if you had car problems, or
a roofer if your house was leaking. Unfortunately, we generally
feel less comfortable seeking help in the matters of the heart.
Yet what area has a greater impact on our happiness?
3) It's too vunerable to admit that I want a relationship. |
The first
step in realizing any goal is to first admit that there is something
you desire. Many singles sound very cavalier when it comes to relationship.
“If it happens, it happens.”
“I used to want a partner but now I don’t really care
anymore.”
“Relationships always end in divorce now anyways.”
Such statements
can be a cover-up for a deeply held desire that has met with disappointment
and frustration.
Letting up your
desire for a relationship is a very courageous act, especially when
you don’t know how to get there. It is bound to be accompanied
by feelings of vulnerability. In fact, feelings of vulnerability are
probably a sign that you are on the right track! Vulnerability is
a big part of intimacy.
This is always the clincher when people are looking
at investing in themselves. For many it is challenging to spend money
on “intangibles”, such as love, or peace of mind. It’s
somehow easier to spend money on things you can touch and see, even
if those things are much less likely to bring you the happiness that
so-called “intangibles” will.
Once
the basic necessities of life are covered, then everything else we
spend our money on is a reflection of what is truly important to us.
If you think you can’t afford to spend money on having a successful
relationship, you may want to re-evaluate the expenditures that you
deem are more important. And ask yourself, “Are they REALLY?”
Regardless of your situation, there is a resource that can
help. |
Resources
abound to assist us in having the quality of life and relationships
we desire. There are websites, books, counselors, workshops, coaches,
friends and family members, all with much to offer. From low-cost
to high-cost alternatives, select the ones that will work and feel
“right” for you. Ask for help and you may be amazed at
what transpires.
Here are some easy-access, low-cost resources to get
you started: |
These
resources are provided courtesy of David Steele, the founder of the
Relationship Coaching Institute. (I’m a member coach of RCI.)
David is committed to providing relationship coaching, education and
resources to a wide audience. He offers a wealth of free and low-cost
resources to his on-line subscriber community. Here is a sample:
www.consciousdating.org
This site has numerous resources for singles. You can sign up for
a monthly newsletter for singles, with articles and an advice column.
You will also be informed of monthly free teleseminars for singles.
Note: The seminar for March 1, 2007 is: Conscious Dating For Boomers:
Finding Love After 50. Email me for details is you can’t find
the info you need.
www.partnersinlife.orgThis
site has numerous resources for couples in all stages of relationship.
You can sign up for a monthly newsletter.
www.consciousrelationshipseminars.com
Subscribers can attend a free monthly teleseminar with various relationship
experts and/or authors. Each seminar features a different topic with
a different expert.
www.consciousrelationshipseminars.blogspot.com
This site has a podcast library of relationship teleseminars that
have been held in the past. You can browse the site and listen to
those that interest you.
Enjoy!
Shirley Vollett, BSW is a Life & Relationship Coach
who loves to support and encourage singles in their quest to have
a satisfying, successful life AND relationship.
Shirley offers Get Ready For Love! A Program for Singles.
Clarify your vision for your life & relationship. Then strategize
how to make it happen. Read more at www.shirley.vollett.com/singlesgetready.htm
Contact
shirley@vollett.com to
receive your free Relationship Readiness Review and a Complimentary
Coaching Session with Shirley.
Visit
shirley.vollett.com
to find out more about Shirley's coaching services.
If
you are reading this for the first time and wish to subscribe, email
shirley@vollett.com and
put Subscribe in the subject line
This
newsletter may be forwarded in full without special permission provided
it is used for nonprofit purposes and full attribution and copyright
notice are given. For any other purposes, contact shirley@vollett.com.
Copyright
© 2007 by Shirley Vollett.
All rights reserved.
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