If you think about it, relationships are like cars.
When you first get a car it's shiny, new, and exciting. And over time, it requires periodic maintenance to make sure it's operating well. You have to check various levels and fill up the tank on a regular basis. Sometimes, you might hit a rough patch or be faced with unexpected roadblocks. If you just coast and ignore the warning signs on the dashboard, your car will eventually stop working and fall apart. It will be harder (and more expensive) to get it to the dealership to have things fixed or replaced. And if there is too much damage, you might need a new car altogether.
The same goes for a relationship. Believe it or not, relationships take intentional work. You need to constantly monitor and evaluate how things are going. You need to check in with your partner on a regular basis. You need to fill your partner's love tank from time to time so neither of you is running on empty. You may encounter unexpected life stressors or transitions that you'll need to navigate together. You'll need to keep an eye out for warning signs and make sure you do some preventative maintenance. If not, your relationship will start to malfunction and fall apart.
If you've started to notice that things in your relationship aren't as healthy or effective as they used to be, reach out to Laura for a relationship check-up (Click here to learn about the services Laura offers for couples: Relationship Counseling). If you wait until the point where the relationship is about to fall apart, it's going to be harder (and more expensive) to get things back on track.
It's a lot easier to prevent problems now rather than fix problems later.
Laura specializes in working with couples who are motivated to do the work and restore their relationships. We call it work because that's what it takes. Each partner has to be willing to examine how their own behaviors might be negatively impacting the relationship. Furthermore, they have to acknowledge those behaviors and make a commitment to implement change. Each partner has to actively practice new skills each and every day. But do you know what happens when you put in the work? You reap the benefits and experience a deeper level of relationship satisfaction.
