Personal Freedom

People in relationships often do struggle with achieving a healthy balance between the relationship and their personal freedom.

But the truth is you do not have to lose personal freedom when you enter into a relationship. In a healthy relationship, personal freedom simply gets redefined because your actions now affect your partner and not just you.

For example, let's say you stay out late with friends and don't communicate to your partner where you are or when you will be returning. While you are exercising your personal freedom, your partner is at home on edge. He or she is being adversely affected by your behavior.

How do you preserve personal freedom in a relationship while minimizing adverse effects on your partner?

In a loving relationship, you can manage your personal freedom through communication and negotiation. Engage in conversations about freedom for both of you. Here are some useful topics to discuss:

• How and when can either one of you say no to the other and have it be ok?
  

• When and in what ways would each of you feel your personal space was threatened?

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• How and when will you spend time with friends/family together and separately?
  

Is being in a relationship worth the effort of communication and negotiation? It is if what you want is love, respect and a partnership that works.

Your Relationship Coach,
Rinatta Paries
www.WhatItTakes.com

(c) Rinatta Paries, 1998-2002. Do you know how to attract your ideal mate? Do you know how to build a fulfilling relationship, or how to reinvent yours to meet your needs? Relationship Coach Rinatta Paries can teach you the skills and techniques to attract and sustain long-term, healthy partnerships. Visit www.WhatItTakes.com where you'll find quizzes, classes, advice and a free weekly ezine. Become a "true love magnet(tm)!"