Every relationship’s cornerstone is based on trust. And trust comes from telling the truth. So what is the reason so many relationships fail? Here are five:
1. The Half Truth. Telling the other person only what you want them to know or what they only want to hear is a slippery slope. Jack Nicholson told Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give, “I’ve always told you some version of the truth.” 15 minutes later he had a heart attack. Nothing breaks trust more than finding out your skirt was stuck in your pantyhose from the waiter rather than your husband.
2. Parent and Child Behavior. You are the parent and he is the child. Or vice versa. An imbalance of power means someone has more decision-making authority, gives or takes more, and is usually left holding the bag. Abuse can creep into the relationship when one person has more power than the other.
3. Smother City. No contact with the outside world is suffocating to a relationship. If he insists that you have no friends or you need to account for every detail of every conversation, that’s a sign of controlling behavior. Not attractive.
4. Green-Eyed Monster. Jealousy is one of the most common causes of break-ups. Jealousy occurs when there is a feeling of separation and competition. The root is when you feel less than your significant other, pushing him to constantly prove himself or his undying love for you. This ends up being a full-time job that most people can’t succeed in.
5. It’s All About ME! Thinking of yourself first and foremost causes you to ignore the need of others. You become egocentric, making you difficult to live with. People who are caught up in their ego need constant stroking, praise, and support BUT are not accustomed to giving it. This is when you need to decide if you can love enough for two. Odds are not in your favor.
Failed relationships are one of the main causes of stress and unhappiness. Working on successful relationships, whether they are with children, parents, or friends, is the most important skill you can attain. If not, you will continually chase what could have been.
Influence and persuasion expert, Karen Keller, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and Master Certified Coach with over 25 years of experience. She focuses on women's leadership and empowerment as well as executive, personal, relationship and life coaching. She is also a successful entrepreneur and author. Her other areas of specialization include mentoring, sales techniques, success skills, intuition, body language, management development training, motivational speaking, and corporate training. Discover Influence It! Real POWER for Women now! For your free subscription visit http://www.karen-keller.com.