Frequently couples are in a situation when they assume that the other person is aware of how she/he feels about them .They fully believe that they have shown their belief in and support of the other. When you ask specifically how the other person would know, the answer is something along the lines of, "oh I don't know but she knows .I am always there for her." Is the person relying on carrier pigeon or the power of telepathy?

It is important to believe in your partner and to make this apparent in your behaviour.( The same applies to how you are with regard to any other person)

Take the time to let them know they are VALUED and ACCEPTED for the person they are. COMMUNICATE this in words. Don't take it for granted that the other person will automatically be aware .When a couple truly know how the other feels about them, they are much more likely to be able to accept any offered help from you and also be in a better position to offer support to you.

Don't automatically offer help without first CHECKING that this is desired or you will be intruding and this can be seen as disrespectful.

Be ENCOURAGING even if you don't particularly believe the person will be successful in doing something. It is that person's right to have ideas and plans and it is not your right to be approving of them. Offer ENCOURAGEMENT because that is what you would choose for yourself if roles were reversed.

We all have areas in which we excel and others in which we do less well.

MUTUAL RESPECT implies having faith in another person.

MUTUAL RESPECT is the recognition of the equal worth of each individual.

MUTUAL RESPECT is accepting that people have the right to do things in their own way.

An atmosphere conducive to MUTUAL RESPECT can be built by trying to understand issues from the other person's point of view.

TRY WALKING IN THE OTHER PERSON'S SHOES and perhaps you will modify comments or thoughts which are in your head.

8 Ways in which we can apply rules of MUTUAL RESPECT within a relationship.

!. ENCOURAGE each other to DEVELOP PERSONAL INTERESTS.

2. Allow each other PERSONAL TIME and SPACE.

3. Make YOURSELF AVAILABLE PHYSICALLY and EMOTIONALLY to the other.

4. Dont just talk. LISTEN and UNDERSTAND. This sometimes requires that we feed back what our understanding of a situation is to clarify that our understanding is a shared one.

5. Don't automatically offer your suggestion/ advice. This may make you feel good but it won't necessarily help the other person in the long run. Instead, try to ENCOURAGE them to GENERATE options regarding SOLUTIONS for themselves. This is much more EMPOWERING!

6. Allow each other to make mistakes and OPPORTUNITY to learn from them.

(Don't overprotect.)

7. Say PLEASE and THANKYOU. A small thing but it goes a long way.

8 .Don't just share tasks but allow your partner to DO THINGS IN THEIR OWN WAY.