Learning to Love From Conflict to Lasting Harmony

by Rosenthal, Don; Rosenthal, Martha

• ISBN13: 9781402745270
• ISBN10: 1402745273
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-03-01
• Publisher: Sterling

Summary

What holds a couple together? Why are we afraid of intimacy? How can we keep our hearts open to one another in the midst of hurt and resentment? Based on nearly two decades of highly successful couples workshops, as well as the Rosenthals' own 35 years as committed partners, this provocative book is a rare combination of timeless wisdom and practical guidance. Written in clear, accessible language, it offers workable strategies for listening to your partner with an open heart; asking for change; giving and receiving; dealing with anger; and releasing one's own guilt, fear, and defensiveness. Yet it does all this with a spiritual depth that is both rare and compelling:Learning to Loveis a spiritual guide to relationships that truly works. Its unique strength lies in showing partners how to use their inevitable conflicts as the means to a deeper intimacy. By directly addressing our human imperfections and messy, complex feelings, it shows how we can create an atmosphere of emotional safety and learn from one another. The fruits of this process, to those willing to cultivate them, are the tools and resources that make the sharing of unconditional love a daily reality.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 13
Introduction	p. 17
Working Together
What Goes Wrong	p. 23
Openhearted Listening	p. 43
Asking Your Partner for Change	p. 70
Giving and Receiving	p. 95
Avoiding Intimacy	p. 110
Anger	p. 123
The Role of Pain	p. 143
Working on Yourself
Mindfulness	p. 173
Energy Leaks and Discipline	p. 185
Fear	p. 204
Defenses and Guilt	p. 219
Opening the Heart: The Greatest Challenge	p. 237
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