How to Navigate Relationships During Pandemic Times

Here’s a summary of the points covered in this section:

· Four Behaviors that lead to potential problems in relationships

· Eight Guidelines to increase happiness with your loved ones

Spending more time in confined spaces, or just spending more time together during lockdown can sometimes lead to overwhelm in a different way – a feeling of not having enough ‘space’.

For some, they are quite happy to be together 24/7, but for others they are just not getting the alone time that they need. Add to that the external pressures of operating day to day in a completely different way, with a multitude of stressors in play and the cumulative effect on relationships can be damaging.

Psychology researcher John Gottman identified certain behaviours that he classified as the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” that can lead to problems.

1. Criticism

2. Contempt

3. Defensiveness

4. Stonewalling

People deal with stressful situations by rationalising the best way to protect themselves. This might mean pushing their partner away, using one or all of the “Four Horsemen” behaviours. 

HOW HYPNOTHERAPY FOR RELATIONSHIPS WORKS

Hypnosis can help with such situations by changing thinking patterns, behaviours and outcomes.

Some of the ways it can help include:

· Dealing with negative emotions

· Improving communications

· Recapturing those feelings of love and romance

· Building strong relationships and a brighter future

THE HIGHWAY TO HAPPINESS PROGRAMME

This hypnosis training programme encourages the release of negative emotions and offers you a better understanding of yourself and your relationship with others, by building healthier communication skills and emotional responses.

This is a three session programme designed to help you as a couple. You will receive a support recording to listen to in-between sessions.

It is a stand alone programme suitable for any client who is motivated and committed to building a healthier relationship.

Here are the 7 “Highway to Happiness” Guidelines:

Make a resolve now to take responsibility and look at these guidelines as a potential pathway to happiness within your partner.

“Any transition serious enough to alter your definition of self, will require not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking, but a full-on metamorphosis.” Martha Beck

1. Write down all the positive differences between you and your partner

2. Stop the Criticism

3. Invest in Cuddle Time

4. Allow Yours and Other’s Dreams

5. Enjoy Discussions

6. Take Time to Listen

7. Take Control of your own Happiness

1. Write Down all the Positive Differences between you and your Partner

Be interested in your partner and the people around you and appreciate their special qualities. Write a list of the positive differences between you, what each of you is good at and what you like doing. It will help you to understand each other better. Remember, two people with different strengths can make a better team!

2. Stop the Criticism

Lots of relationships are spoiled by repetitive negative behaviour such as nagging or criticism. A pattern begins to form so that as soon as one person does or says something, the other responds negatively. Try saying something out of context. When niggles arise between you or one is trying to control the other, say something silly or funny. Your partner will be so taken aback it will throw them – and it may even make them laugh. But more importantly, it will change the habits of communication between you.

3. Invest in Cuddle Time

Make time for just having a cuddle with no expectation of anything further, just enjoy the closeness. Partners are often distracted by what’s going on around them – by technology, sport, children, work, family or friends.

4. Allow Yours and Other’s Dreams

Encourage your partner to fulfil their dreams and ask them to allow you to achieve yours too. When you both feel free, you will both be happy!

5. Enjoy Discussions!

Many irritations in relationships are when one person thinks the other should be doing or seeing things their way. You can easily stand up for yourself by working on the way you approach conversations. For example, say, “We are both right and we are both wrong; we see things differently because we are different people”.

6. Easy Listening

Love focusing on your partners strengths, and really listen to what they have to say.

7. Take Control of Your Own Happiness

Vow to not have too high an expectation of others and how they should behave towards you. Put the responsibility back in your own hands for your happiness, cultivate self-care time.

Listen to my complimentary download in the meanwhile, to help you with any tensions that may arise.

IMPORTANT – NEVER LISTEN TO THE RECORDING WHILST DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERY.