Foreword

Love is a force of destiny whose power reaches from heaven to hell.

Carl Jung, psychiatrist

How much time and energy do you spend thinking about relationships? Are you happy with the status quo right now or do you long for more passion, intimacy and connection with your partner? And if you are single, how are you feeling about your chances of meeting your perfect match? We have an inbuilt desire to relate to another person, which underpins our drive to form relationships. For some of us this desire is easily expressed, while others find it harder truly to connect with another human being. There is something immensely courageous in us that lets us risk opening our hearts to another. A safe passage is never guaranteed in love, and none of us know where the journey will take us, how long it will last or what we will experience along the way. What we do know is that we feel more alive, expanded and whole when we feel love – both for ourselves and for our partners.

Love is a fundamental need that we all share. Without love we cannot feel truly happy and fulfilled. No matter how successful, accomplished or self-aware we are, true joy comes from sharing who we are with another, whether it be in an intimate relationship or some other kind of loving relationship. But we can feel deeply ambivalent about this and we aren’t always open to revealing ourselves in a relationship. For many of us, becoming intimate and exposing our true selves can be both a wish and a dread. So how do we overcome our fears and learn to open our hearts and experience a deep and loving connection in our relationships? What is required of us? If you are willing to grow, and you are ready to invite more love into your life and enjoy a deeply fulfilling and intimate relationship, then this book is for you. Enjoy the journey.