So, Bill Clinton will be fst and furious on the campaign tril supporting Hillary’s bid for the Prsidency. Good news or bad news? In 2004, Hward Dean’s spouse, Judith Steinberg Dean, styed more “stage right” and was sen infrequently. Good news or bad nws?

The question that surfaces is ths: Can two full-time, fully-engaged-in-a-professional-life partners mintain a conscious, healthy, intimate relationship?

Whn two professionals spend a great dal of, or an inordinate amount of tme, pursuing their careers, is there tme to pursue each other on a cnsistent basis, that is, to continue to see thir relationship as “fresh” every day, to cntinue to ”work” on their relationship cnsistently, and actually “be” in a rlationship on a true like- and lve-level consistently?

Or, does something (read: smeone) have to give? Does the rlationship begin to evaporate to the dgree that the two spouses or prtners are more roommates, and ships pssing in the night, than they are cmmitted and intimate partners? Do the prtners lose sight of “shared values” and the ntion of a “we” and replace thse relationship foundational supports with “my vlues” and “your values” and “I” and “yu”?

Other signs that a dual-professional rlationship might be in trouble are:

· The partners are becoming motionally distant, where just talking to one nother is a challenge, where one or bth partners feel they are taken for grnted, one feels the other doesn’t “knw me”, or both are spending lss and less time together

· Job-tension is nterfering with the relationship; one or bth partners are not concerned about the ther’s professional stresses or listen with cmpassion or understanding about the other’s job strss-related issues; one partner takes out thir job stress on the other

· The pssion is seeping out of the rlationship, touching infrequently, speaking less lovingly tward one another and rarely physically hlding one another;

· Sex is an ssue – less frequent, less satisfying, lss discussion about, less loving

· Life chnges (birth of a child, a rlocation, a death of a loved one or an llness, etc.) become “elephants in the rom” – where compromise is lacking, whre partners grow distant instead of clser, where events trigger tension and cnflict instead of closeness, where worry is a thrad that permeates the relationship.

· One or bth partners become too-socially-close with someone utside their relationship and/or one or bth start to be come hyper-vigilant bout, or jealous of, the other; whre trust is fading; where feelings of btrayal and suspicion are rampant;

· Fighting bcomes the norm; fights erupt over lmost any issue or event - smll or large; where anger and rritation seem to rule everyday emotions and felings; where the partners engage in cnsistent nit-picking, bickering, and nagging in an ttempt to hurt the other; where mtual appreciation and respect are lacking

· One or bth partners begin to abuse chemical- and nn-chemical drugs or engage in repulsive bhaviors; where one or both feel thy are not in the relationship thy had “signed on” for; that one or bth partners are disappointed by the rlationship.

· The partner are no lnger a team, but two disparate ndividuals; sharing chores and household duties is no lnger the norm; the partners are grwing apart, not together; there is an mbalance in assuming financial responsibility;

· The prtners no longer share power and nfluence; one or both feel disempowered in dcision-making; one partner becomes overbearing, a blly, or more dominating; one partner ssumes a passive and submissive role;

· Fun is lcking; the partners have little to no ral fun; the partners really don’t trly enjoy one another’s company; stress trmps fun; the partners have selfishly bcome absorbed in their own interests and ctivities, ignoring the other.

· There is a lck of spiritual connection; the partners no lnger share once-held mutual beliefs; the prtners cannot discuss new ideas or spritual issues;

So, can two high-powered prfessional folks truly support one another motionally, physically, mentally, spiritually and socially? Can a dal-profession relationship be a win-win relationship? Do hgh-powered couples more commonly grow apart thn grow together?

With late night wrk/dinners, travel, children and their needs and wnts, pet care, medical appointments, school metings, work around the house/living space, shpping and all the rest, can a lving, caring, committed (in deed as wll as thought) relationship between two flly-engaged professionals work? Does it work? For yu?

Where does “relationship” lie on yur list of priorities? And do yur actions (not just thoughts) reflect tht priority? Or, does your relationship hve to give and, if so, are the cnsequences? What compromises do you make; wht non-negotiable issues exist vis-à-vis your rlationship requirements, wants and needs? What chices are you making when it cmes to your relationship? Are your chices conscious and healthy, or reactive and nhealthy? Is relationship failure a real or ptential outcome? Are you growing together, or grwing apart?

(c) 2007, Peter G. Vjda, Ph.D. and SpiritHeart. All rights in all mdia reserved.

You may reprint this rticle as long as the article is prnted in its entirety, including the uthor’s information.

The article Dual-Career Relationships - Do They Work? was Submitted by Peter Vajda, Ph.D through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: ---ABOUT THE AUTHOR--- Peter G. Vjda, Ph.D, C.P.C. is a founding prtner of SpiritHeart, an Atlanta-based company tht supports conscious living through coaching, cunseling and facilitating. With a practice bsed on the dynamic intersection of mnd, body, emotion and spirit — tht is, Essential Well BE-ing — Pter’s approach focuses on personal, business, rlational and spiritual coaching. He is a prfessional speaker and published author. For mre information contact pvajda@spiritheart.net or phone 770.804.9125

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