Welcome back!
The last area to map out is how you’re going to deal with life’s inevitable challenges. Even the strongest couples can be stressed to a breaking point if the events in their life overwhelm their coping resources. All couples need to build up their ability to weather any storm that comes. Learning how to provide for and protect the relationship are vital tasks for building a lifetime of success together. The following questions will address some ways to keep the external pressures on the relationship from tearing it apart.
How are you handling your finances to build security for your future together?
How are you emotionally investing in your partner as a person?
What efforts are you making to give your relationship enough time and attention to help it thrive?
How do you consciously cultivate the health of the relationship?
What boundaries do you have around the relationship to protect it from interference or intrusion?
What is your strategy for dealing with people who do not respect or support your relationship?
A major part of having a successful relationship is having the ability and the willingness to negotiate how to handle whatever life brings your way, then honoring those agreements. When you provide for and invest in your life together, you stockpile resources that can be used when life gets rough. When you put protections in place, you create a buffer zone around the relationship to help it withstand anything that arises. The two of you can find shelter and stay strongly connected inside that larger circle of a consciously chosen relationship.
Until next time, I’ll be praying for you to create a relationship compass to navigate whatever heavy weather conditions might come your way.