NLP for people who like to think for themselves!
The Six Freedoms model identifies six ‘things that work’ in great relationships; the freedoms which we implicitly give one another and which, when both parties suport them, provide a very sound foundation for the relationship.
(2) Freedom to be an individual
You have a right to be an individual. And to have your own personality. Loving each other doesn’t mean we have to be ‘joined at the hip’ – we should still have the freedom to have our own personalities, beliefs, opinions, values, and individuality.
With Freedom #2 you can enjoy your home life even if I prefer the outdoor life. You can have different ways of doing things to me. You can like order and tidiness even though I may prefer spontaneity and chaos.
You can have your views on politics, the environment, what’s a “good” versus a “bad” diet etc and, even though we love one another, these views can differ in even quite fundamental ways…
No 2 of the Six Freedoms is an important one since in many relationships the “I” gets subjugated or swallowed up in the all-inclusive “We”.
There is a common and widely-held belief that, since we are now a couple, we have to do things together, think the same way, vote for the same political party, believe the same things, and so on – often to the point where any attempt to step outside this sacred and non-negotiable “We” can be perceived as a lack of commitment to The Relationship.
