I like to take a positive approach, and talk about ways to strengthen and heal relationships. But, an ounce of prevention....

If you want a happy relationship, forgo these actions:
1. Blame and Criticize
This probably tops them all! Instead, praise what you like, and you'll get more of it. Criticize and your partner will shut down. Hasn't blame and criticism aimed in your direction had the same effect?

2. Deny Responsibility for Your Actions
It's related to blame in that you get to point your finger at someone else or at an entity such as an organization. Increase your personal power and take responsibility for your own choices - that's all you have control over.

3. Order People Around
Any joy the other person might have had in doing something for you is instantly lost when they're told to do it.

4. Threaten People
When others think they may be punished or have something taken away as a result of not doing things your way, this sets the platform for lying, cheating, conniving, manipulation, crime and other horrific things.

Hopefully, you'll forgo these four "relationship busters" and find ways to feel good about yourself (and in control) while also spreading good feelings around.

If you want tools to enhance your relationships, I wholeheartedly recommend Nonviolent Communication (NVC) - a powerful process that facilitates trust, openness and optimism and inspires people to work together in genuine partnership.

Learning NVC is fun, informative, and engaging. Take a look at all the great tools available at http://www.nonviolentcommunication.com/freeresources/resources.htm

Like the characters in The Chakra Diaries, I hope you find and keep love in your life.
Namaste!
Becca Chopra



 
 
Dear Becca,
My friend and I just got back from a day-long chakra workshop and I was too embarrassed to discuss this with her…The pendulum showed that her sacral chakra as “open” while mine almost started a tornado whirling in the “closed” direction. We aren’t keeping score (okay, maybe I am) but she has more boy friends than Cleopatra while I am lucky to get a date to church and might as well be celibate. I think that most people consider me attractive and I like what I see in the mirror. So could potential partners be sensing my energetic lack of availability and shying away?
Lusting in Lincoln

Dear Lincoln,
As we know, all of our seven chakras are interwoven and dependent on one another for healthy functioning, yet a closed second chakra can lead to a lack of intimate partners and as put by Dr. Anodea Judith, “sexuality is the water wheel of life that moves the earth below and tempers the fire above.” When couples are face to face, their chakras are aligned between them and as sexual excitement increases, their energetic vibrations are enhanced and woven together at the physical, mental and heart chakra levels as their experience leads them. It’s the old story of the rich getting richer, not only is your friend attracting more partners by having an open sacral chakra but she is amplifying her energy when engaging with them and thus attracting even more.

So, I would like to see you create change in your world by becoming conscious of any ways that you may be restricting the expression of your emotions and to work toward releasing them. For instance, do you find yourself literally or figuratively biting your tongue with friends, family and co-workers because you are yearning for their approval, embarrassed by your emotions in reaction to your own or other’s actions, or angry that others are not hearing you or caring about your feelings? My friends at The Center for Nonviolent Communication suggest that when we are upset that we realize what our unmet needs are, and work to resolve them without blaming others or even ourselves for not doing so.

For most people, including me, this is much harder to accomplish that it is to consider, but the journey is worth it, because expressed desires create movement (change), causing our life forces to flow like water to other beings around us (even men).
Namaste,
Becca