Description
“Most people think of love as a feeling,” says David Richo, “but love is not so much a feeling as a way of being present.” In this audiobook, Richo offers a fresh perspective on love and relationships – one that focuses not on finding an ideal mate, but on becoming a more loving and realistic person. Drawing on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, How to Be an Adult in Relationships explores five hallmarks of mindful loving and how they play a key role in our relationships throughout life:
- Attention to the present moment; observing, listening, and noticing all the feelings at play in our relationships
- Acceptance of ourselves and others just as we are
- Appreciation of all our gifts, our limits, our longings, and our poignant human predicament
- Affection shown through holding and touching in respectful ways
- Allowing life and love to be just as they are, with all their ecstasy and ache, without trying to take control
When deeply understood and applied, these five simple concepts – what Richo calls the five A’s – form the basis of mature love. They help us to move away from judgment, fear, and blame to a position of openness, compassion, and realism about life and relationships. By giving and receiving these five A’s, relationships become deeper and more meaningful, and they become a ground for personal transformation.
