Challenging our levels of Openness........

Openness is such a challenging concept to master in any relationship. Our natural tendency is to be consumed with self! That means we see life and situations through the biased lens of our individual worldview. It often takes discipline and patience to begin to decide to force ourselves to be open to embracing the heart of another........ When we are open we allow ourselves to experience feelings and perspectives contrary to our own. Openness allows a person to consider the other side, to accept that there is an alternate view and to then change or adjust behavior based on the new knowledge bought to our attention. Openness allows us to be determined in becoming one with another person. At times openness allows us to consider the other person more highly than we do the quest of "being right," or "being comfortable." Openness causes restriction to take a back seat because limitations are few as the heart seeks to embrace and accept........... Take this picture above for example......... He didn't want to be open with again taking annual pictures for the holiday but he decided to be open and in the process he began enjoying himself.  This is just a simple example of openness but in many of our relationships it can really get a lot more complicated. No matter how complicated the issue becomes, having the ability to be open can definitely enhance a couples' chances of weathering any storm of conflict. If we remember that we are a team and that we are on the same side, all barriers can be erased as we aim to create harmony and peace in our relationship.  After all, who wants a war zone in their house all the time??!! So let's aim to be open with each other in 2018! Its January and the perfect time to try some new behavior. Be open this year! Even if you don't like doing a particular activity but you know that your partner does....be committed to trying it. If you feel emotionally stuck in your relationship, be open and attempt to listen to the heart of your mate without judging, fussing or complaining. Ask yourself why is it so important to get your way this time? Is there any emotional baggage driving your refusal to be open to your partner? What will being open do to enhance your relationship? Is there an opportunity for greater emotional intimacy if you decide to be open? Always remember that for any conflict it "takes two to tango." If one or both persons decide to resist the urge to fight and instead be open, it greatly increases the chances of resolving the matter with minimal damage to both partners.  Believe it or not, words can and do hurt so choose wisely this year and reflect greater levels of openness with each other! Happy loving!