Four titles that help you listen to – and with – your significant other
Healthy relationships are built on mutual fondness, trust and understanding: tenets that can’t be established without solid communication. And though we may intuitively feel that communicating is all about voicing our thoughts, it’s also about being silent – creating a space in which your partner can express *their *thoughts.
In this way, a good relationship is like a good audiobook: the more you listen, the more you’ll get out of it.
In this article, we’re looking at a few relationship titles that may help you listen to – and with – your significant other. Take the time at the end of your respective busy days to come together, talk together and listen together. Not every day can be the high watermark for your relationship, but each day can be a learning process toward a deeper understanding of yourself, your partner and the ways you interact.
Now. Let’s get intimate.
Uncover Universal Truths and Difficult Questions with Mark Manson
50-odd years ago, John Lennon wrote the song, “All You Need Is Love.” But is that really true? Or should we trust Trent Reznor who, 35 years later, wrote a song called “Love Is Not Enough”? If you’re Mark Manson, you’re inclined to believe the latter.
Mark doesn’t believe that love isn’t special. He just doesn’t think it’s enough. When love is placed before anything else, it promotes co-dependency and erases what makes us individually special. As he puts it : “A loving relationship is supposed to supplement our individual identity, not damage it or replace it.”
To hammer home his point in Love is Not Enough, Mark interviews people in a variety of relationship situations and counsels them in live therapy sessions. The result reveals some interesting universal truths about what people are willing to sacrifice for their relationship and how, paradoxically, un-idealizing love can make it grow even stronger.
Listening to other people’s stories can open up avenues for discussing your own story. It can help you contextualize your own relationship, and see your issues from a fresh perspective.
Navigate the Thornier Aspects of Parenthood with Stephen Marche
Those with kids understand parenthood is inextricably linked to your relationship. There’s no talking about one without at least mentioning the other. So, for parents, communicating about parenthood is key.
Stephen Marche’s How Not to Fck up Your Kids Too Bad talks specifically about fatherhood, but his learnings and experiences are universally applicable in a lot of ways. Read through the stellar Audible reviews and you’ll find plenty of moms, soon-to-be dads and curious listeners lauding Marche’s fresh takes on the topic. Even parents without kids can discover the value of communication and the importance of working with your partner through life’s challenges.
