Romancipation

S4 Episode 11: Your Instinct is Your Best Friend: Listen to it   Episode Summary Mother Nature gifted you with an internal voice which serves only one purpose: to keep you alive.  When it comes to romantic relationships, we tend to ignore this warning system, especially if it is in opposition to our wants and needs.  By rejecting your own internal boundaries, you place yourself in situations that...

S4 Episode 10: Passion is Not the Same as Jealousy: One Thrills and the Other Kills   Episode Summary Passion is something that we all look for in a romantic relationship, but how we define passion can vary.  Often people place too much value on passion as a way to measure the success of a partnership. Viewing a lack of excitement as a sign the relationship is not healthy or fulfilling is misdirec...

S4 Episode 9: You Can Have It All in a Relationship, Just Not All at Once   Episode Summary Believing you can have it all in a relationship is realistic, as long as you accept that it will probably not happen at the same time.  There will be points in a romantic relationship where certain priorities the couple has identified take precedence over others.  Whether it is romance, sex, financial secur...

S4 Episode 8: Keeping Score Will Make Everyone a Loser   Episode Summary Becoming a couple means compromise and a willingness to take turns.  While it is natural to want your romantic relationship to be equitable, it is more difficult to achieve in reality.  For many, keeping score is a way to enforce this idea of fairness.  Unfortunately, it is misguided and often leads to resentment in the relat...

S4 Episode 7: Every Person Needs to Be Selfish in a Relationship, Just Make Sure to Take Turns   Episode Summary When two people come together in a partnership, there is often the expectation that individual autonomy takes a back seat to the couple’s wants and needs. This is the quickest way to breed resentment in a relationship.  Instead, each person should work in tandem to achieve common goals...

S4 Episode 6: Resentment is Relationship Cancer   Episode Summary Resentment is natural and inevitable.  Hence the reason it is responsible for so many relationships coming to an end. It can come from internal or external sources and can wreak havoc on your love life.  Every person should be aware of what their resentment triggers are, and clearly communicate them to their partner. Whether it is a...

S4 Episode 5: It’s All in the Delivery: It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It   Episode Summary The ability to communicate effectively with your partner is one of the key elements of a successful relationship.  For many people, it is not the substance of what is being said that creates issues in a relationship, but how that information is delivered.  In order to get the most benefit out of yo...

S4 Episode 4: Acceptance is Not the Same as Forgiveness   Episode Summary Every relationship will have its trials and tribulations; feelings will be hurt, boundaries will be violated, and trust will be tested.  How you choose to react to those transgressions will determine the fate of the relationship. You may be willing to forgive a partner’s behavior, but that does not mean you will accept the c...

S4 Episode 3: Independence is the Secret to Relationship Longevity   Episode Summary Independence is one of the sexiest qualities a person can possess.  Men and women are drawn to an independent person.  Why? Because when someone has interests and friendships outside of their romantic partnerships it sends a very clear message: I don’t need to be with you to be happy, I want to be with you because...

S4 Episode 2: Fifty Shades of Infidelity   Episode Summary For many, the concept of infidelity in a romantic relationship is black and white.   However, what constitutes cheating is open to interpretation, hence the fifty shades.  Your partner’s perception of behavior that they deem as unacceptable may be very different from your own.  Make sure to understand your partner’s boundaries and comfort...

S4 Episode 1: Being Honest is Not the Same as Telling the Truth   Episode Summary When it comes to relationships, honesty is not always the best policy.  Truth is based on fact, whereas honesty is based on feelings and opinions. While it is important to be truthful with your partner about your intentions and expectations, giving your “honest” opinion is often not appreciated and can cause unnecess...

S3 Episode 12: Never Base a Relationship Decision of Fear, Complacency or Guilt   Episode Summary Fear, complacency or guilt should never be the driver of your romantic decisions. Too many relationships either begin or continue longer than they should because one partner is compelled to stay with the other person for the wrong reasons. Loneliness, desire for children, financial security, cultural,...

S3 Episode 11: Accountability is Sexier Than it Sounds   Episode Summary Accountability in a relationship is often overlooked, and yet it is a crucial aspect to a healthy partnership.  When two people decide to be accountable to one another it builds trust, intimacy and security.  Accountability should be a two-way street.  Both partners need to clearly define the expectations of their relationshi...

S3 Episode 10: A Healthy Relationship Can Be Had at Any Age   Episode Summary Whether you’re young, middle-aged or entering your twilight years, it is never too late to find a fulfilling relationship. It does not matter if you are single, dating, committed or married.  What counts is the mindset that you bring into the relationship.  Every day is a new chance to reset.  It is up to you to take con...

S3 Episode 9: Their Past is an Accurate Predictor of Your Future Together   Episode Summary The more things change, the more they stay the same.  This is true in relationships.  Just because you have a new relationship does not mean your behavior patterns will change.  The same is true for your partner.  If you want to get a sense of what your relationship will look like, just look at their past r...

S3 Episode 8: Finances and Philosophy: Make Sure You Share the Same Worldview   Episode Summary Money makes the world go around.  How you view money and manage your finances will determine a significant aspect of your life.  If you share similar philosophies with your partner about debt, saving, budgeting, investing and spending, you have a higher likelihood of achieving your financial goals.  Whe...

S3 Episode 7: Romantic Trespassing: Don’t Violate My Boundaries Episode Summary Believe it or not, everyone loves boundaries.  Why?  Because they set expectations and reinforce security in a relationship.  When a person is clear about their expectations, wants and needs in a relationship, they set their partner up for success. Remember, boundaries are a two-way street in a relationship.  Just as y...

S3 Episode 6: Use the End of a Relationship as the Opportunity to Reinvent Yourself Episode Summary Breaking up may be hard to do, but getting a fresh start can be life-altering. Instead of seeing the end of a relationship as a negative, use it as an opportunity to do something different in your next romance.  Do a deep-dive into the relationship and identify things that didn’t work for you and de...

S3 Episode 5: Sad State of Affairs: Physical Infidelity Versus Emotional Infidelity in a Relationship   Episode Summary Infidelity in any form is toxic to romantic relationships.  It causes pain, destroys trust and can have many other unintended consequences.  Unfortunately, cheating on a partner is more common than many realize.  What a person considers unfaithful behavior can vary from person to...

S3 Episode 4: Personal Responsibility? What’s That?   Episode Summary Personal responsibility sets you free in more ways than one.  It’s a “get out of jail free” card when you mess up in your romantic relationship.  When your partner feels like you have owned what you did or said, it allows for healing and growth to take place.  It’s empowering because taking personal responsibility for decisions...

S3 Episode 3: Stop Being a Chicken: Ask the Right Questions and Listen to the Answers   Episode Summary One of the cornerstones of a healthy romantic relationship is clear, open and honest communication.  Yet for so many people, asking questions about important things like feelings, intentions, family planning, finances and sexual needs feels difficult, scary and inappropriate.  The fact is, the o...

S3 Episode 2: Words are Free, Actions are Costly   Episode Summary When it comes to romantic relationships, people place way too much stock in what another person says instead of what the individual actually does. Too many people have let slip the “I love you” when they did not mean it.  Why? Because it is easy to say, tends to get you what you want in the moment and often buys you time in a relat...

S3 Episode 1: Respect is the Anchor of a Relationship, Not Love   Episode Summary R E S P E C T, find out what it means to me.  Everything.  The foundation of a relationship should always be respect, not love.  Love ebbs and flows between two people, but respect should be a constant.  You can love a person and not respect them.  You can love a person and not trust them.  You can love a person and...

S2 Episode 12: Being A Sidepiece Should Never Be an Option Episode Summary If you are looking for a relationship, then you deserve to be the one and only focus of the person that you want.  The idea that anyone should ever accept the position of a sidepiece (aka side chick or mistress) is ridiculous.  Beginning or staying in a relationship where your wants and needs are not being fully met because...

S2 Episode 11: Part 2: If You Need to Lie About Your Relationship to Impress Others, Don’t!   Episode Summary It is natural for people to compare their romantic relationships with their peers. As tempting as it may be, resist the urge to try and one-up your friends or colleagues.  If you got lucky and found your soul mate, that’s amazing.  Make sure to take the time to cherish and appreciate your...