The Tao of Partnership

The “Tao” is Chinese for “the way.” For committed couples, there is a natural flow in which effective action tends to move. Two partners come together and plan an activity, create an idea, invent a vision or design a project. After co-creating some aspect of their lives, they move into action. They participate together, they collaborate, they cooperate in their venture and they fulfill their plans. Then, after taking action, they jointly look at what they have accomplished and what results they now have in their lives.

The Tao of partnership consists of the processes of co-creation, cooperation and co-ownership. The prefix, “co,” in front of the words “creation,” “operation” and “ownership” means “together, with, joint or equally.” The prefix refers to two people jointly engaged in the activities of creating, operating and owning with each other and as equals.

The act of co-creation could be seen as a pre-requisite for true partnership. Throughout the lifespan of a committed couple, during the time they date, get engaged, marry and live together, two people co-create their lives by making commitments and promises to each other.

Over time, couples honor what they co-create by continually recommitting themselves to their relationship and by taking action that not only expresses the values and vision of their relationship, but also fulfills the future they envision for themselves. Couples in true partnership co-create their lives, cooperate in their daily activities and co-own what they have together. Over their life span, couples in a partnership marriage express themselves repeatedly through the processes of co-creation, cooperation and co-ownership.

Posted in Partnership Marriage