Unique People Unique Approaches

This prompt could almost be asking me to write one of those self help books that people love if they agree with them and dismiss as rubbish when they don’t. The truth, of course, is that the self help writer is making money by saying, ‘This is what I would do, and you should as well.’ If you are like the writer you will find it helpful, if you aren’t you won’t.

How can I write a guide to relationships when I only have a narrow range of them? If, as seems likely, we are talking about romantic relationships, I have only had one and that’s the one I am in. Would you really take any instructions from me from such a small sample size of experience? Of course not and neither should you. Every relationship is between two unique individuals and they have to find their own unique paths to strengthen their bond. People who set themselves up as purveyors of advice or as counsellors are applying guesswork at worst and some measure of instinct at best. They may be lucky and they may help, but that will be more because they are similar to you, not because they have any great insights.

Talk to the other person in the relationship, get to really understand them on the deepest level and don’t listen to anyone else outside of that relationship.