Learning to Love: From Conflict to Lasting HarmonyWhat 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 chan≥ 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 Love is 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. |
Contents
Foreword by Richard Borofsky Ed D | 13 |
Working Together | 21 |
Openhearted Listening | 43 |
Asking Your Partner for Change | 70 |
Giving and Receiving | 95 |
Avoiding Intimacy | 110 |
Anger | 123 |
The Role of Pain | 143 |
Working on Yourself | 171 |
Energy Leaks and Discipline | 185 |
Fear | 204 |
Defenses and Guilt | 219 |
Other editions - View all
Learning to Love: From Conflict to Lasting Harmony Don Rosenthal,Martha Rosenthal Limited preview - 2009 |
Learning to Love: From Conflict to Lasting Harmony Don Rosenthal,Martha Rosenthal Limited preview - 2006 |
Learning to Love: From Conflict to Lasting Harmony Don Rosenthal,Martha Rosenthal No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
able accept acknowledged agita allow angry arises attack avoid aware become begin behavior believe blame body boundaries bring caffeine challenge child choose love closed heart compassion conflict conscious convey couples create defenses difficult discomfort dullness emotional energy leaks escape experience explore express fear feel love feel my love feeling of unworthiness felt G. I. Gurdjieff guilt habit healing Heartwork hurt imperfections inner interac intimacy intimate relationship judge judgment keep kind let go living look meditation mind mistakes negative feelings okay Openhearted Listening ourselves pain parents partner partner's anger passive-aggressive behavior perhaps person perspective present relationship release request response Rick rience safe safety sense someone sometimes spiritual tell there's things Thoughts from Martha tion tone of voice truth trying uncomfortable uncon unconscious unconscious mind understand upset validate Vermont wounds yoga