1. Spend time together, being attentive, responsive, nurturing, caring, and affectionate toward each other.
2. Respect your partner’s needs for private and alone time. Avoid possessiveness and jealousy.
3. Communicate openly: Listen with an open heart. Make yourself known and visible to the other.
4. Avoid aggressive criticism and personal attacks.
5. Don’t attempt to dominate your partner when you disagree with each other. Stand up for yourself without putting your partner down.
6. Don’t assume that you know your partner’s thoughts, feelings, and wishes better than your partner does.
7. Keep in mind the big picture—that it is more important to be intimate than to be right.
8. If you have overreacted or hurt your partner’s feelings, have the courage to apologize.