Creating Excellent Relationships

"creating excellent relationshiops: the power of character choices is a rich resource that can guide an individual or a couple considering a committed relatationship. it provides a path to learning about the virtues of one's own character and that of one's partner replete with interactive activities and exercises for exploring these vital issues deeply." linda kavelin popov, author and co-founder of the virtues project

Susanne M. Alexander is a Relationship and Marriage Educator and Coach with her company Marriage Transformation. Susanne has authored over 20 books and discussion guides. She meets with clients globally for marriage preparation and marriage strengthening through the Internet and presents dynamic workshops. She is certified by PREPARE-ENRICH to offer pre-marital readiness and marriage strengthening assessments and coaching. She is lead faculty and course developer for online relationship and marriage courses for the Wilmette Institute in Chicago, USA.

Susanne has been single, dating, engaged, married, divorced, and widowed. She is a child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, and grandparent. All of this has given Susanne a diversity of experience to share!

Marriage Transformation (www.marriagetransformation.com) Marriage Transformation is an educational service company whose mission is to dynamically empower individuals and couples to engage in skillful, character-based communications that contribute to creating happy, unified, and lasting marriages. It is currently based in Tennessee in the United States.

Susanne has been quoted in or written articles published in: Washington Woman, Marriage Partnership, Inc., Ladies Home Journal, Newsweek, Chicago Sun Times, The Washington Times, NBC Online, Yahoo.com, Match.com, Hitched.com, ParentsConnect.com, Entrepreneur.com, and more. She has been a contributing columnist and eCourse leader with www.simplemarriage.net.

Susanne is a member of Better Marriages and the National Association for Relationship and Marriage Education as well as an advanced communicator with Toastmasters International. She is a member of the Bah' Faith (www.bahai.org; www.bahairelationships.com).

table  of contents

notes  about this book.............................................................................................. 6

part 1a: knowing and growing your own character.............................. 10

chapter 1: understanding character........................................................................... 11

chapter 2: discovering your own character.............................................................. 24

chapter 3:  developing your character....................................................................... 37

part 1b:  knowing a partner’s character......................................................... 52

chapter 4: understanding character and partner observation................................. 54

chapter 5: observing friendship and character in action......................................... 76

chapter 6: linking character and communication.................................................... 97

chapter 7: connecting character and sex................................................................. 116

part 2: worksheets................................................................................................... 131

1: understanding your character choices............................................................... 132

2: assessing your character qualities...................................................................... 134

3: creating your character development plan........................................................ 137

bonus : choosing character qualities to look for in a partner................................. 140

4: assessing character strengths in your  relationship partner............................... 142

5: practicing observation skills................................................................................. 145

6: learning from your parents’ relationship............................................................ 147

7: assessing your misuse of character qualities...................................................... 149

8: assessing character misuses in your relationship partner.................................. 150

9: discerning your perceptions and commitments about sex............................... 152

part 3: powerful character qualities............................................................ 153