Here are three especially useful keys to having great relationships.  I believe that if your relationships are lacking these elements, the relationship may come to be at risk; the more that is missing, I suspect, the higher the risk.  It'll be self evident why, as you read on, I believe.
 

1. Use your intuition to get into the right relationship, and avoid relationships that don't have much of a chance of working out well.

Time after time, I've seen people get married, ignoring a strong intuition or feeling that they shouldn't go ahead...simply because it would be embarrassing to call off the wedding.

The great marriages I've seen began with an intuition or strong knowing that "this is the person for me", or something like that.

In other words, if you want to pick relationships that will fail, don't listen to intuitive warnings about trouble; if you want to pick relationships that CAN work, listen to your intuition about getting into relationships that are intuitively indicated.
 

2. Generosity, mutual generosity -- is needed to make a great relationship work.

I'm too frequently surprised at people who are counting what they get, rather than focus on what they can give.  Marriages where one person earns more than the other, and wants to reserve money for them self or have a prenuptial agreement signed, rather than divide up the bills according to income.

When individuals focus on what they're not giving, and on holding back, when there is a lack of mutual generosity...the relationship is often at risk.
 

3. Continuous Learning is important.  Continue to learn how to grow, personally; continue to learn new ways to delight and surprise your partner.

You won't be bored, if you are doing this.  The relationship will continue to improve with age, if you continue to learn, are mutually generous...and of course, if you use your intuition well -- by listening to it!
 

Try this: examine present and past relationships you know about, yours and those of other people...for the presence or absence of these elements.  See how those relationships are working out...and what conclusions seem appropriate, for you.
 

Copyright 1999, by the Coach Center