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"Your partner can and should meet all of your emotional needs." "All disagreements can and should be resolved." “Great relationships require little maintenance.”
Old models of marriage such as these are crumbling. Divorce rates remain high. Many people are skeptical and mistrustful about having real love in their lives. It's clear people need new models to help them connect with each other in meaningful, lasting ways. It's time to break free from old patterns of commitment and to forge new pathways for healthy, thriving, deeply loving relationships.
This hope-filled resource for developing soulful, mature love is aimed at committed couples who are looking to build, maintain and glorify the sacred in their relationship. It creates a context for couples to honor the gradual movement from physical “flight-fight-freeze” body-based survival to more heart-filled, communication-oriented love, to spiritual awakening and soul-purpose fulfillment. It encourages couples—as individuals and as partners—to let go of dysfunctional, hurtful, restrictive behavior in favor of liberating self-concepts and belief systems. It provides solutions for communicating and problem-solving more effectively, allowing each partner in the relationship to experience more emotional intimacy, joy and sexual pleasure. The book provides relationship information, practical tools and inspirational, real-life stories. It also offers a banquet of spiritual practices for couples of all faiths—or none—to bring these new models into focused action.
"A true gift ... deep wisdom and loving guidance is present each step of the way.... A beautiful guide for anyone desiring to create and sustain a profoundly connected and truly fulfilling relationship."
—Mali Apple and Joe Dunn, authors, The Soulmate Experience: A Practical Guide to Creating Extraordinary Relationships
“It is not good for humans to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). But it is a lot worse to be trapped in a lifeless union. Jim and Ruth Sharon help you avoid both. This is a practical and heartfelt book on creating the relationship you want.”
—Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author, Embracing the Divine Feminine: Finding God through the Ecstasy of Physical Love—The Song of Songs Annotated and Explained
“Great insights from a couple who has been married for a long time and know what it takes to keep the flames burning.... That testimony gives credibility to their practical ideas and suggestions.”
—Kay Yerkovich, MS, MFT, and Rev. Milan Yerkovich, authors, How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage
“Insightful, loving and full of real understanding of what makes marriage rich and meaningful.... Jim and Ruth have successfully shared the knowledge they have gained from their own marriage and from years of counseling and teaching others. A deeply engaging book!”
—David Karchere, spiritual director, Sunrise Ranch, Loveland, Colorado
“Brings couples face to face and soul to soul…. I have no doubt that thousands of soulful couples will find this book transformative as they seek to love more deeply and create the kind of partnership that blesses everyone.”
—John Backman, author, Why Can't We Talk? Christian Wisdom on Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart
Introduction vii
1. Getting Personal: Taking on Your Inner Work 1
2. Breaking Loose: Replacing Unwanted Habits with Positive Patterns 15
3. Speaking and Listening in a Dance: Mastering Soulful Communication 39
4. Respecting and Cherishing Your Beloved: The Seeds of Sacred Relationship 60
5. Light Your Fire and Bask in the Warmth: Exploring Sacred Intimacy 81
6. The Power and Beauty of a Balanced Life: Honoring You, Me, and Us 102
7. Sustaining Your Soulful Relationship While Parenting: Cultivating Couple Care 123
8. Vision for the Future: Expanding and Elevating Your Love 140
Invitation: The Promise of Love 158
Notes 163
Suggestions for Further Reading 164