I have not shared this before here, as it involves my past and a bit of home life, but I used to work in psychology, before I became ill with an autoimmune disease. Sometimes I try to over analyze things. It isn't difficult to do, since I was trained to analyze. However, at times it has been helpful for me. I am able to help others at times and I am able to even try to better understand myself and my relationships.
Improvements only become improvements when you stick with them. Changes for the better only happen when you continue to work on them. So often in life, we have this view that if we do something for a little bit of time it will look like we are trying to make improvements to others, in our lives, but we are only fooling ourselves. And ultimately, hurting our partners. If your partner is communicating to you that they are feeling a certain way and you admit you need to make changes and work on things, and start to for a short time and slip back into old habits, it isn't helping your relationship.
In saying this... You should never try to change anyone, including your partner. You can communicate your needs and feelings and that you wish things would be different. However, pushing them to change will accomplish nothing. They must want to change themselves.
So for today, I think it is helpful for me to share this with you. Maybe it helps some others out there in the cage. Sometimes it is hard to me to remember... Everyone must make their own choices. Pushing won't make things easier. And when you make a change just to satisfy your partner, it usually won't last long. It has to be something you want yourself and for your relationship/s as well.
Take care cage friends
-HLB