Explore your beliefs about relationships in your journal. Answer the following questions in a ‘stream of consciousness’ style, without lifting your pen from the paper…

• How does being in a committed relationship make you feel?
• How does being single make you feel?
• What are your fears about being in a committed relationship?
• What do you think the main benefits of being in a committed relationship are?
• What are your fears about being single?
• What are the benefits of being single?

Complete the following sentences:

• I think marriage is…
• I think a committed relationship is…
• I think being single is…
• I can’t be happy in a relationship because…
• I can be happy in a relationship because…
• I can’t be happily single because…
• I can be happily single because…
• People in committed relationships are…
• Married people are…
• Single people are…

Look at your answers and consider whether your current beliefs about relationships help or hinder your sense of fulfilment with regards your own relationship status. What would happen if you changed your beliefs about relationships?

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