Barrie Davenport

other words, when you say or do something hurtful to your partner, the harm of this event

isn’t negated until the two of you have five loving and kind interactions.

There are hundreds of ways to show kindness and respect to your partner. Speaking loving and affirming words, showing common courtesies, listening attentively, offering praise and gratitude, and being quick to apologize are just a few.

It’s painful to realize your perfect partner is an imperfect human being. But once that reality becomes clear, you have two choices. You can make each other miserable by criticizing, blaming, and coercing change, or you can use this awareness as the catalyst for a new and more evolved kind of relationship.

Once we concede that our spouse or partner is not merely an extension of ourselves and our egos, but rather a unique and worthy individual who deserves our acceptance, then we can enjoy a deeper and more intimate connection.