| Is it time to take control of your relationship? Do you | | | | there are things upon which you violently disagree, then |
| feel respected as an equal, or do you feel you're just | | | | you need to deal with that too - decide that those |
| there to rubber stamp his decisions? Is your individuality | | | | things are off limits. |
| and independence allowed to flourish, or has it been | | | | 3. Form Good Habits |
| squashed down? A truly healthy relationship is a | | | | Relationships get out of balance for many reasons. |
| partnership of equals - if that isn't the case, you could | | | | Sometimes it's because one partner has a more |
| be heading for trouble, sooner rather than later. | | | | controlling personality, but more often it's just down to |
| Fortunately, there are four simple things you can do to | | | | laziness or habit. If it's easier for you to let your partner |
| restore the balance and take control of your | | | | take control, then naturally, he'll take control. You've |
| relationship, starting today. | | | | basically given him permission to do so. |
| 1. Set Boundaries | | | | Take control of your relationship by renegotiating that |
| Taking back control doesn't mean becoming | | | | general permission. Say "no" once in a while. Make a |
| passive-aggressive or refusing to cooperate. That just | | | | decision about where to have dinner, or whose |
| skews the balance in the other direction. It does mean | | | | parents to visit over the holidays. |
| setting clear boundaries. Some things will be your | | | | 4. Give Each Other Space |
| choice and responsibility, some things will be his, and | | | | When you're in each other's lives too much, the law of |
| some things will be mutual. You just need to identify | | | | "familiarity breeds contempt" comes into play. To take |
| them, make them clear and most importantly, stick to | | | | back control, you need to take back your life away |
| them. | | | | from the relationship. This doesn't mean going off on a |
| 2. Agree To Disagree | | | | round the world trip by yourself, but you can assert |
| In a similar way, it's important to identify those areas | | | | some independence by forming your own social circle |
| upon which you can agree to disagree. There's never | | | | and developing your own interests. |
| been a relationship in the history of the world where | | | | If you don't take control of your relationship, the price |
| the partners agreed on 100% of things 100% of the | | | | can be high. Don't become a victim of powerlessness |
| time. The most successful relationships recognize this, | | | | and resentment. |
| and deal with it in a healthy and respectful way. If | | | | |