An Assessment for Future Growth Potential

This exercise will help you look ahead and assess the growth potential of your relationship.It should enable you to work on positive prospects for future planning and avoid, if possible, negative ones.

Each of you respond to the questions independently and then come together to discuss, evaluate and plan for your future.

1. What are the qualities and values we both share at the present time which are making our relationship a good experience? 
2. What other factors promise for us a good time in the future? 
3. What difficulties stand in the way of our experiencing our potential for happiness at this stage of our relationship? How can we best plan to deal with them? 
4. Are there other differences (such as different life goals, attitudes, and opinions) that could divide us in the future? How can we best deal with them? 
5. Take time to reaffirm to each other the commitment you feel toward growing in companionship in a shared future. Is there any other action you would like to take to indicate this commitment?

Adapted from an article in "Marriage Enrichment at Home," Marriage Enrichment newsletter, February 1988.

From the resource files of the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment