Concepts
- Emotional Bank Account
- The accumulated credit of positive interactions (curiosity, gratitude, affirmation, shared pleasure) that provides the relational reserves needed to weather conflict without damage.
- Curiosity as a Portal
- Robinson's framing of genuine curiosity about a partner's inner world as the single most reliable pathway to deeper connection and resolution of misunderstanding.
- Pushing Buttons and Triggers
- The recognition that strong emotional reactions to a partner usually reveal something about the reactor's own past rather than being simply a response to the partner's behavior.
- Sincere Apology
- A structured approach to acknowledging impact, taking responsibility, and making repair — as distinct from defensive sorry-saying or apologies conditioned on the partner's reaction.
Chapters
- Introduction
- Part 1. Building Strong Relationships
- Chapter 1. What the World Needs Now
- Chapter 2. The Power of Desire
- Chapter 3. Keys to Connection
- Chapter 4. Vive la Difference
- Chapter 5. Communication Workout
- Part 2. Understanding Your Partner
- Chapter 6. Curiosity as a Portal
- Chapter 7. Feelings and Desires
- Chapter 8. Pushing Buttons
- Chapter 9. Avoiding Triggers
- Chapter 10. Know Thyself
- Chapter 11. Honesty Is the Best Policy
- Chapter 12. Your Perfect Partner
- Chapter 13. Shared Pleasures
- Chapter 14. The Real You
- Part 3. Increasing Love in Your Relationship
- Chapter 15. Say What You See
- Chapter 16. Say What You Like
- Chapter 17. Ask For Answers
- Chapter 18. Perform Periodic Maintenance
- Chapter 19. Spoon 'Til You're Tune
- Chapter 20. Share Your Wisdom
- Part 4. Reducing Conflict
- Chapter 21. Care For Yourself
- Chapter 22. Show Empathy
- Chapter 23. Take Responsbility
- Chapter 24. Speak Your Heart
- Chapter 25. Tell the Truth
- Chapter 26. Work Together
- Chapter 27. Negotiate Change
- Chapter 28. Apologize Sincerely
- Chapter 29. Take a Break
- Chapter 30. Accentuate the Positive
- Chapter 31. Write What You Feel
- Conclusion. Final Thoughts
- Appendix A. Guide to Exercises
- Appendix B. Lists of Emotions and Desires
- Appendix C. Key Questions and Sentence Prompts
- Acknowledgements
Rating
Topics
- Communication, Couples, Relationship Skills, Positive Intention, Curiosity, Generosity, Vulnerability, Gratitude, Responsibility, Feelings, Desires, Pushing Buttons, Avoiding Triggers, Know Thyself, Naked Truth, Perfect Partner, Shared Pleasures, Play Together, Stay Together, Real You, Emotional Bank Account, Deeper Intimacy Questions, Empathic Understanding Questions, Periodic Maintenance, Relationship Tune-Up, Spoon Tune, Higher Self, Reducing Conflict, Self-Empathy, Show Empathy, Take Responsibility, Tell the Truth, Work Together, Negotiate Change, Apologize Sincerely, Take a Break
Published
- May 1, 2018
Publisher
- Mango Media Inc.