While guilt can sometimes be a good motivator, it is also often used as a weapon, especially in relationships. We put people on guilt trips to manipulate feelings and make them do or not do what we want. Sometimes we don't even realize we're using guilt as a weapon in our relationships until enough damage has been done, and we see the hurt we've caused. No one wins when we play the "guilt game," so how do I break the habit of using guilt to get my way? What are some signs I need to look for to see if I'm hurting my relationships with guilt?

Comparison is such a common part of our daily interactions. We compare prices on items we want to buy. We compare the food we eat at different restaurants. We compare our music tastes to those of others. We find all sorts of ways (sometimes without even thinking about it) to compare what someone else has to what we have. Comparison can sometimes be harmless, but it can also be dangerous, especially when it comes to relationships. When we start to play the "comparison game" with our friends or spouses or dating partners, we can end up causing a lot of damage. So how do I know what the comparison game looks like? And how do I keep comparison from hurting my relationships?

It’s common for people to “play games” in certain relationships. We make choices and say things in order to win the argument or get things to go our way, and at the same time we end up undermining trust and respect with that other person. At Flagstone for the month of February, we are going to take an honest look at the games people play in relationships and discover how we can truly “win” by making our different connections the healthiest they can be.