Be willing to forfeit: the win-win strategy

Disagreements are inevitable — as unavoidable as Tuesdays or the common cold.

If you want to love and be loved, you’ve got to care for your partner’s feelings, especially when you’re fighting.

When there’s a lot of goodwill, it’s amazing what you can say and still feel good about each other.

The problem is the idea that there has to be right and wrong in an argument.


Get to the point, nicely

People are not direct enough. Indirect communication can be really damaging.

The point is not to criticize and attempt to rein the other persons habits.

Don’t take on the task of teaching a person or being anyone’s personal therapist.

Identify what you feel and share it.


Recognize that there is an “I”

Encourage each other’s goals and ambitions, don’t feel threatened by them.

If you’re not able to address your own needs, no one else is going to do it for you.


Be a copycat

Finding that mix of individuality and teamwork isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s essential.

Women in general tend to be influenced by men without much emotional difficulty, while men are often resistant.

A man who allows a woman’s ideas and attitudes to impact his own is creating an equal exchange.

Learn to appreciate the difference.

Learning to let the strengths come through, no matter whose they are, makes for a better team.


Be positive — it’s not just a blood type

One of a persons greatest strengths is a generally positive outlook.

People need to learn early on, that there are always going to be problems.

There’s always going to be stress, somebody gets sick or somebody dies, and that’s part of life.

Dwell on the good times and not on the bad.