The art of bonding

The art of bonding

November 2014

By Sharmila Bhosale

Creating Excellent Relationships,Susanne M Alexander, Jaico Books, INR 299, 330 pages

It also underlines the undeniable truth that creating good relationships is hard work. It takes commitment, perseverance and dynamic intent.

Alexander, who is a Relationship and Marriage coach, asserts that forming relationships, and taking those to higher levels, requires continual action, in addition to keen observation skills, and soul searching.

Which is why all the chapters, whether it is the way we choose partners or friends, and the personal characteristics that need to be worked on to relate in a fulfilling manner with these relationships, contain plenty of worksheets and practice material, in addition to guidance on how to delve more deeply into our selves and reflect.

But for the book to really work, you will need to be honest with yourself, put in a few minutes of daily practice, and seek the cooperation of a trusted friend to complete some of the exercises.

At times, the book does get on to the high moral ground, losing its touch with what can really be possible – and even becoming pedantic; especially while discussing character qualities. It makes for interesting reading but falls short of being translated into active, living, breathing relationships.

But just to get started on how to understand yourself better, and how to go about doing it – for that is where ultimately all relationships start and end, this book takes you into the spaces and places within yourself where happy and even excellent relationships can originate.