"Without a long-term, committed relationship..."

[Robb]

"...you will never truly know yourself." :shrug:

[mhr]

1. What Utter BullS***!

eom

[opiate69]

2. I would say the opposite..

Without taking a "break" from relationships, and spending some time alone, you will never truly know yourself.

[Exultant Democracy]

3. I have been to the other side of the mountian

it looked just like this side. If you are ever going to know yourself then it is only up to you.

[rbnyc]

4. I think you need to know yourself...

...before you get into a long term relationship. You also need to be happy and sattisfied being alone, and it also helps to not actually want to be in a relationship, or else you'll never find the right person.

[GOPisEvil]

5. Ding, ding, ding! We have a winnah!

:D

[camero]

8. Exactly

:thumbsup:

[Robb]

10. So the relationship itself

...isn't a mechanism for the participants themselves to learn and grow individually?

[rbnyc]

13. Well, I hope we never stop learning and growing...

...so in a way, both things are true. First you have to learn and grow and know yourself, and through a relationship you can continue to learn and grow. But if you don't have a foundation of knowing yourself pretty well, and being strong and capable on your own, your relationships probably aren't going to work very well.

[Unity]

6. Would those voting "I'll buy that" please present your reasoning...

I think the other side is "winning", but I haven't heard your arguments yet and I'd be interested. Thanks.

[nuxvomica]

7. It's tautological, actually

One aspect of yourself you will never know is the aspect that reacts to a long-term, committed relationship. How you gonna know that unless you try it? :shrug:

[Unity]

12. That would go for anything then...

Any challenge...

Climbing a mountain
Running a business
Running for office
Playing an instrument
Bowling

How will you know if you never try?
Do we have to know ALL aspects of ourselves?

[DemExpat]

11. I voted "I'll buy that"....because

staying in a long-term relationship with my man has been one of the most difficult lessons for me.
Where I used to have the tendency to run from problems, this has shown me with humility for my sometimes raging ego that sticking it out CAN have precious rewards.

But I also value lots or independence and time alone, so every relationship of course is a different story!

DemEx

[VOX]

9. A "long-term, committed relationship" is impossible to sustain...

Unless you've spent some serious time alone, figuring out who you are, independent of others. Even then, you may decide that being solo is the way to go.

I prefer being in a relationship, but that's just my choice.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. It was MY way, but I voted Bollocks. (nt)