[Eoscstudents] Healthy Relationship Awareness

[Levenia Carey]

Good Morning:

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Many people enter their first 
committed relationships during college.  On the one hand, romantic 
relationships can be wonderful, bringing out the best in two people.  On 
the other, even the healthiest relationships will have times when things 
are complicated, confusing, and challenging.  Problems sometimes arise 
when two people have conflicting expectations of what their relationship 
"should" be like, are distracted by other academic or personal issues, 
or have difficulty communicating in ways their partner can really hear 
and understand.,  While the early months in a relationship are often 
effortless and exciting, successful long-term relationships involve 
ongoing effort and compromise by both partners.  Because relationships 
skills are rarely "taught," sometimes one or both partners just may not 
know how to establish and maintain a healthy and mutually satisfying 
relationship.  This week I will be focusing on Healthy communication and 
conflict resolution, strategies for weathering the normal "stormy" 
times, understanding how expectations impact relationships, and offering 
seven basic steps for maintaining a good relationship.  I want to start 
to day by making you aware of your basic rights in a relationship.


                                                                          
Basic Rights in a Relationship
Adapted from Patricia Evans, 1992, The Verbally  Abusive 
Relationship                                                               


                                           The right to emotional support.
                                           The right to be heard by the 
other and to be responded to with courtesy.
                                           The right to have your own 
point of view, even if it differs from your partner's.
                                           The right to have your 
feelings and experiences acknowledged as real.
                                           The right to live free from 
accusation and blame.
                                           The right to live free from 
criticism and judgment.
                                           The right to live free from 
emotional and physical threat.
                                           The right to live free from 
angry outbursts and rage.
                                           The right to be respectfully 
asked, rather than ordered.

Know your rights and make sure that your relationship compliments rather 
than degrades you.  You deserve the best and should never settle for 
less.  Take care of you......

Levenia
918-465-1757