Relationship Fitness
Copyright 2002, empathic coaching associates. All rights reserved.
It's a great feeling when you've worked at getting into shape and see the results - you shed excess flab, climb flights of stairs without wheezing, and have an overall sense of well-being. What got you to that point? In most cases, physical fitness was achieved by finding a systematic program adapted to your personal needs - and following it regularly for a period of many months. We may also have enlisted the aid of a physical fitness center and fitness coach to cheer us on.
Now let's use that as a metaphor to understand the concept of "relationship fitness." One day something happens and we become aware that our relationships with valued others are stale, deteriorating, or even destructive. We resolve to do something about this! But how?
Just as with getting into shape physically, we first need to find a program that can be tailored to our personal needs. We need a program that will work for our circumstances, that is flexible, and that we will stick with for the long term. And finally it would be a plus if this program included the services of a resource center and relationship skills coach to help us through the strenuous effort required.
How does the Relationship Enhancement program measure up?
First, this program has been validated by research studies to be effective. For example, in a review of couples' programs in the 1999 Annual Review of Psychology, authorities A. Christensen and C.L. Heavey stated, "Numerous studies have evaluated the impact of RE [Relationship Enhancement] enrichment programs for couples. These studies have typically found that couples make significant gains in the areas of communication, self-disclosure, empathy, and relationship adjustment...extant data comparing programs currently favors RE."
Next, Relationship Enhancement is universally adaptable to all interpersonal relationships and is religiously and culturally neutral. The program has been used with married couples, engaged couples, many other kinds of family relationships, and workplace relationships. It has been used in religious settings, in non-religious settings, and with a wide variety of cultural and national backgrounds. Because Relationship Enhancement is based on fundamental truths about humans and their relationships, it can be adapted to your personal needs, whatever those are.
Finally, the Relationship Enhancement method provides the necessary resources and coaching that will help you to be successful in learning the Relationship Enhancement method and in sticking with it until it becomes an integrated part of your life.
So would you like to achieve "relationship fitness?" Yes, this means hard work, but the results are well worth it. After all, our enjoyment in life is directly related to the quality of our relationships.
