Tag Archives: relationship advice

Love Advice: How to Maintain Your Identity When in a Relationship

Young romantic valentine's couple

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about couplehood. Usually before you enter a committed, monogamous love match you have a pretty good sense of who you are. Your thoughts, opinions, likes and dislikes. And when you start dating someone regularly it’s a great opportunity to discover new things, or see things through their eyes, as well as sharing your favorite pastimes in the hopes that they will appreciate them as much as you do. Like any relationship, it’s a chance to learn and grow.

But unlike friendships, couplehood carries a much greater chance of “I” becoming “We.” Seeing each other daily, living together and marriage turn you into a unit. Compromise ensues, and sooner or later you realize that you now never make a decision without taking the other person into account. While a certain amount of this is very healthy for your partnership, it can also be scary because it can make you feel like you have lost your sense of self.

Compounding that sense of loss can be the way the two of you are now automatically associated together in social or business circles. Suddenly it can feel like any statement made or opinion expressed by your partner is connected to you…even if you disagree with it! As a single, independent woman, I’ve put together a few tips on how to maintain your individuality while still growing together as a couple.

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Open Communication

With all the excitement and intrigue swirling around the office lately, I thought open communication in the workplace would be the perfect subject for this week’s blog post. I was all ready to get started, but then my dear friend Mr. Knightley insisted on taking over. Way to show initiative, Alex!

- Emma

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Emma Said / Annie Said: Opposites Attract

SheSaid_SheSaid

My best friend Annie and I recently had an argument about which is better when it comes to relationships: being alike or being different. I think that being different can be exciting, offer surprises, and add new ways of thinking to the mix. Annie claims that common life goals and a similar perspective build a strong foundation for a lasting relationship. I believe that being with your doppleganger gets boring after awhile, whereas Annie believes that always disagreeing can get boring after a while.

We’ve been back and forth and have now decided to bring the conversation to you with a good old fashion debate! Or a slightly condensed version. I’ll make my case, Annie will offer her rebuttal, and then we’ll both conclude. Next: you decide who’s right.

I really loved debate in high school. Annie doesn’t stand a chance!

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Life Advice: Unexpected Happy Endings

You have goals, ambitions, and dreams. That’s something that is definitely Emma Approved! But there is a difference between believing in a path and actually walking the path, and you’re never exactly the same person you used to be after the journey. Every experience changes you in the best way possible, making you a wiser, more layered, stronger individual. And just like that dress you used to love in high school that you would never wear now, your old plans may no longer fit you. You’re just hanging on because you see yourself a certain way and have a hard time letting go. So here are a few tips on how to put the past behind you and leave yourself open to all the possibilities of the future.

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He Said / She Said: Alex vs Emma

Here at the Highbury Partners Lifestyle Group, we believe that everyone’s input is important. A good idea can come from anyone, regardless of title or experience. However, that doesn’t mean that we all always agree on how to get things done. Although Alex and I both have the best interests of the company at heart, we often disagree about the most effective route to success. Therefore, we thought we’d give you each of our perspectives on some of the career and life topics we often cover on our blog. We each came up with two questions, and you’ll find all four of our answers below. Enjoy!

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Relationship advice: How to have a more balanced relationship

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about relationships. Specifically, I’ve been trying to figure out how to have more balance in all my relationships. Because even when you think everything is fine, you may find out that people you care about or work with (or both) feel otherwise. You never know how your actions are being perceived. For example, you may think that you’re helping someone you care about by giving advice, but they may feel that you talk more than you listen. Or they may think that by trying to make decisions without discussing them first, you aren’t being considerate, when you assumed you were just saving them time and trouble.

Balance can be a tricky thing, and every relationship has a unique dynamic. Timing can also be a factor. Sometimes a relationship is temporarily unbalanced because there is a change: one person now makes more money, has less time, is going through a particularly difficult situation or is in a place of authority. During these times, you must adjust accordingly and make up for the imbalance in other ways or at a later date. But there are a few basic rules that apply to everyone at anytime whether it’s family, friends, romance or coworkers. Here are a few tips on achieving and maintaining a balanced relationship.

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Ask Knightley: Relationship Advice

A lot of you asked questions about relationships, which I suppose makes sense since it’s a large part of what Emma does. I can also see why it might be helpful to have a guy’s point of view once in a while. But please keep in mind that these opinions are just my own. I don’t represent all men everywhere or the Emma Approved mission statement. This is just one ordinary guy’s point of view. Here goes.

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Dating Advice: How He Asks and What It Means

Image from Cargo Collective

When someone asks you out it’s always flattering, but that doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to say yes! And whether you were hoping for it, expecting it, or were completely surprised by it, you usually don’t have very much time to make a decision. Along with all the usual factors, another thing to consider is how he asked you. How a man chooses to ask you out says a lot about him and his feelings for you. Here are a few tips on interpreting his actions and what they might mean.

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Love Advice: Think Before You Leap

Image by Life Daily

Love is a magical and powerful thing. It’s an amazing feeling. It makes us do things we don’t understand, things we can’t control. And like it or not, it often leads us in the wrong direction. Often, people settle for Mr./Ms. Good Enough. A relationship that’s nice enough, but will never reach it’s full potential – a dead end. If you know yourself well enough to know you want someone you can commit to for a lifetime, then what you’re really looking for is a partnership. Two people who bring out the best in each other, who make the most out of life, together. So how do you know if it’s the real deal or just a simple crush? Ask yourself these five questions before leaping into love.

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