Relationships can offer companionship and a shared experience of life, creating a sense of pleasure and fulfilment when managed well. Navigating relationships can be complex and sometimes overwhelmingly challenging. They may seem impossible, frustrating, or even nightmarish at times. However, this perspective only captures part of the spectrum of what relationships can also offer. They can be supportive, caring, enjoyable, engaging, and loving.

It's no wonder that there are so many songs about falling in love, breaking up, and reconciliations or millions of books that explore the themes of love and heartbreak. These themes echo a universal human experience and our inherent pursuit of connection. While some may opt out of this pursuit due to fear of rejection or failure or that there may not be someone out there for them, there is a compatible partner for each of us in a world population of over eight billion.

However, finding that partner often only happens actively. A story from a friend of mine, an astrologer, highlights this point. She once forecasted that a client could find a partner in the coming year. It was a good year for it, and the energies were just right for finding someone compatible. The client returned the following year, questioning the accuracy of her prediction as she had not met anyone. The revelation was that the client had spent the entire year waiting at home and expecting a partner to appear on her doorstep magically. This incident underscores the necessity of taking the initiative, stepping outside our comfort zone and immersing ourselves in the world. In Imago couples therapy, to keep growing; we must explore and constantly challenge ourselves.

This story reminds us that we must actively engage in the world around us to find our potential partner and ignore whether it is a 'good' year or a 'bad' year. It's not enough to hope for love to find us; we must be willing to take the initiative, venture out, and interact with the world in our quest for companionship. Only then will we stand a chance of finding love?