The Web address of this article is
https://sfhelp.org/relate/mates/time.htm
Updated
02-08-2015
Clicking underlined links here will open a
new window. Other links will open an informational popup,
so please turn off your
browser's popup blocker or allow popups from this nonprofit Web site.
If your playback device doesn't support Javascript, the popups may not display.
Follow underlined links after
finishing this article to avoid getting lost.
This is one of a series of articles
in self-improvement Lesson 4 - optimize your relationships. This
article exists because sociologists estimate
up to half
of U.S.
marriages fail legally. Untold millions more fail psychologically, but
not legally. Implication - most
American couples unintentionally pick the wrong partner, for the wrong reasons,
at the wrong time.
This brief YouTube video previews key points in this and related articles:
The video mentions eight self-improvement lessons in this Web site - I've reduced
that to seven.
The wrong people are psychologically
wounded, unaware, and in denial of this.
Wrong reasons to commit include ending loneliness and anxiety,
rescuing, legitimizing sex, proving something to someone, revenge,
codependence, and other unhealthy motives. The wrong time is
before both mates
reduce their wounds and gain the knowledge in this
self-improvement
course. Does this make sense to you? Do
you agree that few courting couples could name and explain these
commitment criteria?
+ + +
This
worksheet is for childless couples who are dating seriously.
If either of you is a single parent now, use this worksheet.
This worksheet offers criteria for deciding
when each partner is ready to commit to a primary relationship. These
criteria come from the
professional research I began in 1979, and clinical interviews with over 1,000 average (Midwestern U.S.)
adults since 1981.
My research suggests that one of
five
related
reasons for the
tragic U.S. divorce epidemic is
unawareness
of how to make
threewise courtship choices.
This is one of five worksheets
designed to help courting couples make three wise commitment choices for
themselves and any descendents.
Danger
- you may
respond to these worksheets with what you want to believe, vs. what
is
- so
consider getting an objective opinion on your answers.
Directions
Prepare. To get the most from this worksheet, first
study and discuss...
the intro to
this Web site and the
premises underlying it
Print this page, and allocate at least 30" of undistractedtime. Choose attitudes
of...
open-minded curiosity, and...
"this is a win-win-win investment of my time
for me and any future child/ren."
If you don't
genuinely feel
these, a protective
false self probably controls you.
Options
In
responding to these worksheet items, imagine
being an objective news reporter or a social scientist. Scan the
whole worksheet before starting to fill it out.
Check each main item as "true" only if you can honestly check all the
sub-parts of it. Use
"?" if youre unsure.
View uncheckeditems as projects to work on
alone or with your partner.
Jot down
your thoughts and feelingsas you fill out
this worksheet. The process of
filling it out can be just as
instructive as your answers!
Star or hilight items that you want to learn
more about.
Invite your partner to fill out a copy of this checklist -
separately.When you're both done, discuss your findings together, and see
what happens. Whatever you learn here, keep exploring the other
Lesson-4 wise-choice worksheets.
If you fudge your answers here, you're potentially hurting yourself, your partner, and
any descendents.
The more of items below you can check, the higher the odds you're choosing
to commit at the right time. Caution: even if you mates are each
choosing to commit at the right time, one or both of you may still be committing
to the wrong
people for the wrong
reasons.
Thoughtfully check each sub-item and main item that seems "true enough"
now. Items are grouped by (a) each partner and then (b) for the couple:
"Is This The Right Time
to Commit?"
A) Partner Readiness Factors
Me
You
1)
...has lived aloneas an adult for at least two years (more is better). Living alone promotes
discovery of one's
true Self
and life purpose, self-confidence, and starting real inner-wound
recovery if needed.
2) ...
has
had enough time to progress well on
grieving major broken bonds (losses)
from childhood and adulthood. Men
need to grieve too!
3) ...has had time to
_
honestly
assess
for significant psychological
wounds or
_ is clearly self-motivated
to do that within the next month.
4) If s/he does
identify as a
Grown Wounded Child, s/he can now _ clearly name the specific
inner wounds s/he needs to heal, and_ has clearly begun
implementing a Self-motivated, viable,
recovery
plan to do so.
5) ...has had a stable set of
friends,
acquaintances, and supporters for at least 18 months, vs. being socially isolated.
6) ...has had
enough time to adjust and stabilize from any major physical, emotional,
occupational, financial, geographic, or other life changes
-
including the end of any prior primary relationship.
7) ...has had enough
time to evolve a
clear
idea about what her/his life-purpose or missionis now, and is
pursuing it; or is now actively seeking to clarify that.
8) ...has had enough time
_ to identify the
personal
needs
that s/he wants our
relation-ship to fill, and _ to learn the key
requisites for a mutually-satisfying
primarypartnership.
9)
If s/he probably or surely has
an
addiction to a substance (including nicotine,
caffeine, sugar, fat, and/or starches), an activity (e.g. workaholism), a person
(e.g.
codependence), or an emotional state (e.g. rage or excitement),
s/he(a) has clearly dissolved
her/his protective
denials, and (b) is working steadily at a high-priority, Self-motivated
personal addiction-management
plan.
Many average adults are
survivors
of
early-childhood trauma who were or are addicted to reduce relentless
inner pain. Do
you know the
progressive signs of an active addiction to any of these four things?
Me
You
10) ...now
has consistently high self-esteem - i.e. s/he believes that her
or his personal feelings, needs, opinions, dignity,
and rights are
just as important and valid as those of other people.
11) ...can now
(a) clearly describe
the seven
Lesson-2 communication
skills, and is
(b) working actively on
developing and using them now or s/he is clearly committed
to learning and applying these skills in all relationships.
12) ..._ understands the
difference between surfaceproblems and the
underlying
primary needs that cause them, and _ s/he uses this knowledge to resolve current
personal and interpersonal problems
effectively.
13) ...can now clearly describe
_ what a
relationship triangle
is, _
why they can be
significantly divisive and stressful, and (_ s/he has
evolved an effective strategy for preventing - and identifying and
resolving
- triangles in key relationships.
14) ...has been _
financially stable
for at least 18 months, and _ has no major debts now; or s/he is working a clearly
effective, self-motivated plan to eliminate major debts. S/He is
_ clearly able to financially support herself/himself now.
15)
...is clearly
_ well along in grieving significant
losses of key
relationships, dreams, rituals, securities, belongings, and identity; and is
_ clearly getting on
with life in a
wholistically-healthy way.
17) We have had enough time to reach thoughtful, stable agreement on…
__ when and where
to live together
__ whether to
conceive children together, and if
"yes," _ approximately when to do so.
__ when family
loyalty conflicts arise,
each of us freely ranking our relationship
second
(after
personal
wholistic health) above any other relationships
and responsibilities except in emergencies.
__ _ any pre-nuptial financial contract/s either of us wants, and
_ resolving major debts or legal
matters either of us
currently
has or expects.
__
child discipline values and practices
(if appropriate)
__ the contact-frequency, priority, and
boundaries with,
key relatives
__ retirement and estate plans (wills and trusts)
__ life, property, and medical insurance coverages;
__
legal debt and asset-ownership
titles - e.g. property mortgages, vehicle and real estate titles, retirement and savings accounts,
notes and loans, credit-card debts...;
What are you aware of now? What did you just learn? Is there anyone you
want to show this worksheet to and/or discuss your results?
Recap
This
is one of five Lesson-4 worksheets that exist because millions of people
commit to the wrong
partner, for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time - and eventually divorce
psychologically and/or legally. This worksheet provides a way for courting couples
without kids to assess whether this is the right time to pledge long-term commitment to
each other.
This checklist differs from similar instruments because it includes recovery
from psychological wounding + unawareness + effective communication skills +
healthy grieving as important courtship criteria,