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Go for the Gold in Your Relationship
Get ready the Olympics are coming to Vancouver, Canada. The athletes have been training hard for years as they have set their sights on the glistening gold metals. They have made enormous sacrifices and poured their dripping sweat and endless energy into reaching this goal. They have wrestled with their own discipline and tested their level of commitment. Some have had to overcome injuries and personal set backs along the way. They have had to discipline their minds and open their hearts to embrace the love of their sport. These athletes know that all the rigorous mental and physical training are an essential part of their journey towards gold.
Can you imagine if we applied this same level of training and commitment in our relationships? We might not be awarded a gold metal, but I am sure there would be a lot of "gold" savings from less settlements. The divorce rate in North America is rising above 50% and this is becoming a global trend. Paris, the city of romance got a lesson in love's hard knocks last fall, as thousands flocked to the French capital's first ever divorce fair. In France, nearly one out of two marriages ends in divorce. According to the country's National Institute of Demographic Studies, more than 130,000 divorces were registered in 2008, as compared with just 50,000 three decades ago. So if the romance capital is not winning gold metals in relationships, perhaps we need to ask ourselves "why"?
What is happening in our relationships? Are we too busy? Do we have our priorities wrong? Are we looking over the fence at greener grass? Perhaps our relationships are suffering from a lack of training? Our busy lifestyles and misaligned priorities can cause relationship stress, but if our athletes can juggle all of their Olympic demands, you would think we could cope with our everyday events. I acknowledge that the athletes have coaches and personal trainers to help keep them on track, but we can ask for help too. There is no shortage of social services, mentors, counselors and therapists to offer relationship advice and support. By the way, the professionals tell us that the grass might seem greener on the other side, but the roots are still the same. In fact, the divorce rate among second marriages is higher than that among first marriages. According to the enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America, the divorce rate is 60% for second marriages and 73% for third marriages. Wow you would think we would have learned our lessons the first or second time around!
I feel it is time that we go for the gold in our relationships! We must stop acting like "armchair athletes" and start getting more active in our relationships. My grandmother used to say that "practice makes perfect" and considering she gave birth to ten children; suggests that there was a lot of "practice" in her home. A training regiment that includes doing kind acts, sending loving thoughts and scheduling dates will be rewarded with more love.
Here are a few exercises to get you started:
- Start your day with a love exercise - say "I love you" three times
- Stretch your mind - send loving thoughts throughout the day
- Raise your heart rate - use your imagination (hint love rewards)
- Play Syncrohearts and you are well on your way to a gold medal!
Bobby of Syncrohearts
Bobby O'Neal helps manage a community forest in Mission, BC. He is also an author and creator of SYNCROHEARTS: The new relationship game you love to play and play to love created for all couples to improve their love for each other and strengthen their relationship. SYNCROHEARTS and Bobby were seen October 15th 2007 on CBC's Dragons Den and were voted by all viewers as the winner of that episode. Bobby has written many articles on self improvement, love and relationships. Visit www.syncrohearts.com for details about this meditation-inspired game and more articles. You may also contact Bobby directly at: info@syncrohearts.com
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