“Seventy-five to 80 percent of all


chemistry evaporates within six to eight months unless the relationship is significantly undergirded by deeper and more


durable compatibility.” ~Neil Clark Warren


that the relationship is worth the effort to nurture and sustain it.


Partnering Life’s Dance Five couples in different stages of lov- ing partnerships share how they make their special relationships work. The key to them all is shared values. Doing everything together. For newlyweds Drs. Josh and Chelsea Axe, of Nashville, Tennessee, a mutual commitment to vigorous wellness and physical fitness


keeps them together. Says Josh, “The healthy lifestyle I have chosen to live is so important that I need someone who is able to not just agree, but also partner with me.” Married in 2012, the two chi- ropractic physicians went on to co-found the BurstFIT interval training program and meld their professional, as well as personal, lives.


Chelsea notes, “There is truth to the phrase, ‘Couples


that sweat together, stay together.’ When working out together, you share a specific energy you create while pushing yourself to your mental and physical limits. You have your partner right there doing it alongside you, knowing they’re support- ing you; so when you each break through a mental or physical barrier in your workout, you step over together into a strength and confidence that carries over into your marriage. Being a part of each other’s goals and the struggles to reach them unifies us.” Remarks Josh, “I feel like we can both be successful individually, but when we’re a team, the outcome is synergistic.” Chelsea adds, “It’s never a mindset


of ‘me.’ It’s always ‘us.’” Balancing work and play. Barbara and Bob Unell, of Leawood, Kansas, dated as teenagers, went their separate ways in college and then found each other again in their early 20s. “We went on a blind date in 1968 and both belted out songs on the car radio,” recalls Bar- bara. “I thought he had a great sense of humor and was fun to be with. All these years later, it feels like we’re still dating. We’re crazy about each other.”


Dealing With Conflict in Relationships by Elda Dorothy


A


ny type of long-lasting relationship will inevitably en- counter conflict. Conflict is all around, touching every relationship. Fighting is like eating, breathing, or sleeping— everybody does it, just in their own way. Yelling, accusing, or running away—these are some of the


ways people choose to react to a conflict in their life, rather than sharing with the other person what they really feel. Consider this alternative: What if we talk instead of


run away from the situation? What if we reveal what’s really bothering us rather than attack? Often, the conflict is not even about the subject at


hand, but rather some underlying issue of which the person isn’t even aware. Look deeper. Learn to ask questions together to find the


source of the issue. Could it be as simple as one person is overly tired or has low blood sugar? Perhaps they’re lonely so they’re creating drama to receive attention. How people deal with conflict is oftentimes the


brain reacting protectively from repeating a previously unpleasant experience. The next time there is a knot in the pit of your stomach at the thought of dealing with an uncomfortable situation,


18 Twin Cities Edition NaturalTwinCities.com


here are some ways to deal with that: • Notice your body language and posture. The way you carry your body influences your bio-chemical state, thus affecting your emotions. Your non-verbal actions govern how you think and feel about yourself and can change your state of mind. • Change your focus. Whatever you focus on will determine how you experience the world. Be in the moment. Find something good in it. • Watch your words. How you choose to speak affects the way you present yourself. What are they seeing/hear- ing when you speak? “In all tests of character, when two viewpoints are pitted against one another, in the final analysis the thing that will strike you the most is not who was right or wrong, strong or weak, wise or foolish… but who would go to the greatest lengths in considering the other’s perspective.” ~ Mike Dooley


Elda Dorothy helps people deal with the pain of family estrangement. For more information, contact Elda@CompassionateTruth.com or visit CompassionateTruth.com. See ad page 11.


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