Love and belonging are fundamental human needs. And the truth is, when our relationships work—e.g., they are affirming, supportive, and facilitative—the rest of our life areas tend to work better, too. We are generally happier, more confident, and more expansive; we feel like we can conquer the world! This is the transformational nature of love.
But relating to another being is not always an easy experience—even with the best intentions. Sometimes, relating requires learning a “love language” that is unlike our own. Conflict and disagreements are bound to arise. And, when they do, conflict resolution requires skills and dispositions that we may not have developed. Here, too, relationships can help us heal, grow, and evolve—if we’re willing to do the “inner work.”