10 Ways to Use Radical Honesty to Improve Your Relationship¹
When it comes to relationships, I believe that honesty is always the best policy. Not merely remaining faithful. Not in the sense of being able to say that you never really lie to your partner. I’m talking about Radical Honesty; actually coming out and naming the elephants in the room so you can deal with them before they trample all over your relationship.
Radical Honesty requires that you speak your truth even when you feel sure that the other person won’t want to hear it. Radical Honesty means that you have to say how you really feel, especially when you believe that you could either avoid x or conversely make y happen by hiding these feelings from them. It is a commitment to authenticity that requires being true to yourself as much as being loyal to another.
How long can you pretend to be someone else?
If you lack an intrinsic sense of self-worth you may be tempted to censor yourself; to try to express yourself in terms of what would be acceptable or desirable to someone else. In the short-term, you may even be successful in your goals. But, realistically speaking, just how long can you pretend to be someone else? And do you really want to be in a relationship with someone that you don’t believe could love you as you really are?
Whilst the idea of being “strategic” is a popular one when it comes to dating, it doesn’t feel so warm and fuzzy to think that one partner actively manipulated the other into committing to the relationship. Is that really a good way to build a foundation for a trusting relationship?
- Don’t let resentment build, deal with issues one at a time and as soon as they arise.
- Stop trying to control or manipulate your partner’s feelings or actions.
- Share your hopes, dreams and wishes.
- Share your fears.
- Be honest with yourself.
- Share your vulnerability instead of your anger.
- Express your disappointment gently.
- Check that you both have signed the same contract (Explain what you think the unwritten rules are).
- Admit when you don’t know what to do.
- Admit it when you think you may have made a mistake.
¹ - Source.















