If you are in a relationship where you have asked someone to change something significant about their behavior or personality for you, then you know how difficult it is to move forward after this has occurred.  I’m not talking about asking your boyfriend to start putting the seat down after he uses the bathroom or to help wash the dishes.  I’m talking about serious issues like asking your boyfriend to quit smoking or to stop taking his frustrations out on you.  Bringing up these issues creates an extreme amount of tension in your relationship as you each deal with sensitivity to the issue and a struggle against what feels natural.

If you are dealing with a request for change directed at one specific side in your relationship, then the most important question you need to answer is:  Does this person want to change on their own or are they changing just for me?

Everyone says “People don’t change” but I am an optimist and I don’t believe this is true.  I know that people can change.  If you believe in yourself and have the desire to be the best person that you can be by being good to the people around you and being good to yourself, then change is definitely possible.  You have the power to control yourself and be who you want to be.  On the opposite end, if you don’t believe that you need to change and you are just trying to adapt yourself to become what someone else desires, then change may not be necessary or possible.

If you have been asked to change by your partner but you don’t believe that you need to change, then you need to take mature steps to analyze the situation and respond appropriately.  Pull yourself out of the situation and address the larger issue.  Does the request for change fit into your values and morals?  Does it make you feel like a better person?  Or does it require you to abandon something that is an important and positive part of yourself?  Think about why it would be so important to your partner and then why they might think it would be important to you.

If your partner says “Quit smoking” but you don’t want to quit smoking on your own, then change will probably not occur even if you want to please your partner.  If your partner says “Quit smoking” and it makes you think about why you smoke and then you realize that you would like to start living a healthy and smoke-free life, then change will occur.

Asking someone to change or being asked to change can go two very different ways.  It can push you apart or it can be a wonderful start to really bringing you closer together.  Just remember to deal with the issue in a mature manner where you try to avoid being defensive or hyper-sensitive to issues that could have an important effect on your relationship.

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Can You Change For Your Partner?

Borrowed from last year;

Constant = Unchanged, Consistently recurring over time, persistent…

Page 20: “Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.”

Page 73: “But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone all their story… He is under constant fear and tension – that makes for more drinking.”

Page 155: “He told me how he lived in constant worry about those who might find out about his alcoholism.”

Recovery from a hopeless state of mind and body remains a “do what you don’t want to do” program. The Promises will materialize if we work for them!

Post from: Blisstree

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes 2009

Page 20: “Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.”

Once again I’m reading your blogs, especially Mary Christine, because, for me, it is a way of reaching out for information and experience and to motivate the thinker.

I wanted, originally, to find where our book said “Constant vigilance is the watch word,” looked through the online index and concordance but couldn’t find the phrase. MC is speaking of someone who seems to be doing some living in yesterday. I thought about being taught not to live on yesterday’s sobriety. Constant vigilance popped into my head.

I find it sad that someone with almost 21 years seemingly has nothing to speak of but yesterday and can’t address today’s deal, whatever today’s deal might be.

Somewhere along the way they taught me to keep it in today because I couldn’t live on yesterday’s sobriety and I was real good about regretting what I’d done yesterday and fearing what I’d do tomorrow.

Page 73: “But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone all their story… He is under constant fear and tension – that makes for more drinking.”

Page 155: “He told me how he lived in constant worry about those who might find out about his alcoholism.”

Thanks for the mind push MC

Post from: Blisstree

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes