Have you ever noticed the Ouija board effect in the beginning stages of a relationship, where slight moves from either member of the couple can move the other member in that same direction (e.g., toward or away from the relationship), which then moves the first member even more in that direction, etc.? This is because there is so much at stake in those beginning stages – we are wanting that connection, but we also want to be safe. If the other person is going to leave, we want to leave first. If the other person wants to move to the next stage, so do we. Of course, if we are afraid of commitment, this dynamic might be the opposite.
These tiny, unconscious movements can make it feel like the relationship is moving by itself, much like in a Ouija board game. The problem with this is that the relationship can go in a direction that neither member consciously wants. Both partners are reacting, instead of acting. When we are reacting, we are not being authentic or even going in a way that we really want. It can be shortsighted, manipulative, and self-sabotaging, but it is usually our first inclination when we are feeling vulnerable.
Be Courageous
Acting authentically requires being both vulnerable and honest. This requires courage. To open yourself up to a relationship, you need to be able to tolerate your own vulnerability. This includes accepting that the other person is a separate person, capable of making their own decisions, even if it is not the way you want to go. Manipulation may get you what you want in the short term, but no worthwhile, long lasting relationship can be built on that structure.
Acting authentically also requires accepting that you are a separate person, capable of making your own decisions based on your own values and desires. Ask yourself what you would like and what is important to you. Try to stay open to new insights, but try not to convince yourself out of what you know, deep down, is important to you.
Bolster Your Courage
Being courageous and vulnerable can be tough, but there are some things you can do to bolster your courage when you need it most. Keeping close to your friends and family can provide you with a stable base regardless of what happens in your maybe-relationship. Also think about when you feel the safest or happiest, even outside of a relationship. Maybe you are an avid runner, book-reader, or love bubble baths. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself in ways that improve you. There are also some wonderful breathing exercises (see my articles on mindfulness) that can give you a quick dose of self-love, even when you are in the midst of rejection.
Use Your Words
Go ahead and take your hands off the Ouija board and say what you are thinking and feeling, even if you do not have a conclusion. If you really want something from the other person, request it, rather than demanding or manipulating. Know that they might have a good reason why that specific request won’t work for them, so be open to listening to them, too. It is likely that may feel just as vulnerable in their own way, so be respectful. And you never know – they might just want the same thing.
Rose Rigole is a couples counselor/therapist in private practice in Los Angeles and Orange County, California, and is currently accepting new clients. She can be reached by telephone at (424) 571-2273, by email at rose@counselingsocal.com, or via her website at https://couplescalifornia.com.
Ms. Rigole is registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern #64370 and is supervised by Brenda Giron, LMFT at 2001 S. Barrington Ave., Suite 203, Los Angeles, CA 90025 and by Lisa Maurel, LMFT at 2900 Bristol St., C-208, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
