101 Relationship Myths: How to Stop Them from Sabotaging Your Happiness Hot

When it comes to romantic relationships many people struggle to reconcile the idealized belief that they should live “happily ever after” with real life experience. In 101 Relationship Myths, author Tim Ray explains how this is one of many enduring relationship myths that are the root cause of unhappy, and at times stressful, relationships. He helps readers identify and debunk the common fairytale myths that we hold so dear, such as: “If you love me you will do what I want”, “It’s better to be in a relationship than to be single”, and “My happiness is dependent on my partner,” and reminds us that happiness is our responsibility and can only arise from the love we find within.

The author encourages readers to analyze their expectations of their partner and when faced with a potential relationship myth to ask the simple question, “Is this true?” This allows us to identify the beliefs we have regarding our relationships and determine how they affect our happiness. Instead of hoping for something different, we are better off learning how to accept the reality of our relationships, Ray reminds us. This is not to imply people should stay in unfulfilling or abusive relationships, but instead make choices regarding the fate of the relationship based on reality instead of what we wish it to be.

I really enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor and laid-back tone of Tim Ray’s writing. I certainly identified with many of the outlined myths and began to evaluate my expectations and perceptions in my own relationship. While some of his concepts were a bit farfetched for my taste (i.e. having a part-time partner), this book will stimulate readers to discover more happiness within themselves with or without a partner.

Everybody is in one or more relationships. From parents and siblings, to bosses and life partners, our lives are filled with relationships of one kind or another. We've been told a lot of things about relationships and we believe a lot of things. For instance, do you believe a relationship can work only if you compromise? Or that if your partner loved you he or she would do what you want them to do?
What if the concept that men and women think differently is wrong? What if we are more alike than we're different? How would this change your life?
Tim Ray is a relationship columnist and blogger who has written a clearly thought-out book that is also humorous and encouraging. Whether or not you're in a close relationship right now and whether or not it is working for you, this book will be very helpful in understanding better how relationships do and don't work! Many myths are destroyed in this book and rightly so!