7 Steps on How to Save My Relationship

Jim is a hard working guy who spend long hours working and his partner Lisbeth does not feel that he spend enough time with her.  Jim feels that Lisbeth does not meet his needs because she spend all her time with the children Can this relationship be saved?  Should it be saved?  Here is how to save a relationship.

First, you must decide whether the relationship is worth saving. While almost every relationship can be saved with hard work, both parties must decide that they want to make it work.  Because if a partner has opted out and does not want to opt back in, there is little that can be done.

Many people stay in a relationship because it is convenient or remain in a marriage because of the children.  But that is not enough. The way to save a relationship starts with a commitment by both parties that the relationship is worth saving.

Next, you must pinpoint the problem or problems in the relationship.  One of the biggest issues in how to save a relationship is that people believe the symptoms of the problem are the problem itself.  

For instance, many people think an affair is a problem that causes break ups.  In truth, the affair is a symptom of a deeper problem.  For instance, a lack of true intimacy can lead to a straying spouse.  While most people look at the affair as the problem, the underlying cause of the affair was the lack of intimacy in the primary relationship.  If you do not deal with that, you might not be able to keep another affair from starting through the use of guilt, and another problem (for instance pornography) could pop up because you have not dealt with the core issue.

When you start to deal with core issues rather than symptoms, you can save the relationship.  

Once you have identified the core problems, you can begin to share your thoughts.  This means both verbalizing your own feelings and listening to your partners concerns.  When you are talking about your problems you should hold your partners hand as a signal that you want to reconnect even when your emotions are swirling.  When your partner talks about things that hurt you remember that he or she is not doing it because he or she wants to hurt you. Rather it is because they want to improve the relationship.

Once you have detailed the problems in your relationship, create an action plan to solve them.  Then, take concrete steps on your action plan.  If you do not spend time together like you used to, plan a date night every week.  Have fun coming up with creative ideas to spend the night together, remember to take turns.  If not communicating is the problem, commit to spending 20 minutes before going to bed just talking to one another.  And, then do it.

Finally, you should realize that saving a relationship is an ongoing process. You are going to take two steps forward only to take one step back.  There is going to be both laughter and tears going forward.  Be quick to apologize and slow to blame.  

Again ask yourself the question: If so, I have described in this article how to save a relationship.