Evaluating Your Relationships
- Six Signs of a Healthy Relationship
- Two-sided in giving and taking
- Sees you at your best and worst
- Discussions revolve around a variety of topics
- Able to be honest without concerns of rejection
- Inspires you to be a better person
- Your connection is a positive thing: church, hobby, sports…
- Four Relationship Robbers
- Pre-conceived expectations
- Anger
- Unforgiveness
- Selfishness
- Letting Go of Unhealthy Relationships
- Admit their negative influence on you. They are not bad people; just going in a different direction.
- Complete separation is best, but a gradual withdrawal is okay.
- The first month is the hardest as routines begin to change.
- Replace their photos with pictures of your goals and dreams.
- Ask God to fill the void with His peace and new friends.
- Abusive Relationships
- Physical Abuse: hitting things, kicking, slapping, grabbing, intimidation, threatening use of weapons
- Sexual Abuse – demanding unwanted affection, statutory rape, date rape, bribing with office promotions
- Emotional/Mental/Verbal Abuse –putdowns, possessiveness, threats like “If you leave me, I’ll hurt myself…”
- Financial Abuse – controlling all money, possessions or using it to get what they want.
- Abusive behavior is cyclical – abuse, apology, make-up
- A spouse in an abusive relationship should seek professional help immediately.
Excerpts taken from “Life’s Four Greatest Choices” from
Texas Bible Institute’s Foundations For Life Curriculum
