Many self-help relationship books tend to focus on an idealized vision of marriages and intimate relationships. Positive attitudes are very important in intimate relationships AND positivity alone is not enough. The truth is that long term marriages go through difficult experiences, with each partner often under-equipped in terms of self awareness and know-how. The truth is that all partners can revert to aspects of themselves that are significantly younger than their chronological ages, especially when stressed. The Shadow Side Of Intimate Relationships takes a very real look at intimate relationship and what is occurring beneath each partner's surface awareness when un-nourishing patterns of behavior begin to get locked into place. It sheds light on aspects that intimate partners seldom recognize or want to confront and takes the view that both partners must become more aware of themselves, at deeper levels, warts and all, if they want to experience an authentic, enduring love.
In their counseling practice of 25 years, Douglas and Naomi Moseley have found that couples, who are able to step away from excessive judgment and simply begin to recognize their own contributions to difficulties have much more capacity to shift unsatisfying relating patterns, like power struggling for example, and make exciting breakthroughs to more passionate and fulfilling relating. It s not easy to do this kind of work, but the Moseley s believe this kind of personal discovery is a necessary part of truly learning to give and receive love.
The Shadow Side of Intimate Relationships is written in a way that brings forward new ideas on every page and also takes the material deeper in every chapter. If you are hungry to make your relationship the best it can be, have a desire to grow as an individual, and have sufficient ego strength to take responsibility for parts of the human drama that aren't necessarily ego enhancing, you won't be sorry you picked up this book.
The Shadow Side of Intimate Relationships augments and is intended to replace an earlier book written by the Moseleys, called Dancing In the Dark . For those interested in deeper level relationship dynamics the Moseleys have two other books: Making Your Second Marriage A First Class Success, which has a lot of material pertinent to all intimate relationships and Feelings First! How to Feed Your Emotionally Starved Relationship and Bring More Passion Into Your Life
Douglas and Naomi Moseley are known for their get-to-the-root-of-the-issue approach. Working together since 1986, they have co-led more than 300 weeklong retreats for individuals and couples in the US and Canada. They also have detailed significant aspects of intimacy and personal growth in two other books: 'Making Your Second Marriage A First Class Success' (1998), and Feelings First, How to Feed Your Emotionally Starved Relationship (2014). For more information about them go to IntimacyTraining.com.
