RULES
Why Healthy Relationships Need Rules
The word rules makes a lot of people uncomfortable.
It feels rigid. Limiting. Like structure will somehow kill connection. But imagine sitting down to play Monopoly, throwing away the rule book, and saying, let’s just see what happens.
That is how many relationships operate.
Rules are not about control. They are about clarity.
In healthy relationships, rules live inside a simple cycle. A rule exists. Someone makes a mistake. A conversation follows. That conversation generates new ideas. Those ideas turn into agreements. And once agreed upon, they become the new rules.
The cycle repeats.
Many people believe relationships end because someone breaks the rules. I disagree. Relationships break down when there is no room to make mistakes and talk about them.
Mistakes are inevitable. What matters is whether the relationship has the capacity for discussion, reflection, and repair.
Rules are not permanent laws. They are shared agreements that stay in place until everyone agrees to change them. They provide safety, expectations, and a common language for navigating conflict.
When rules are unspoken, resentment builds. When rules are discussed, relationships strengthen.
Healthy relationships are not rule free. They are clear, adaptable, and repair oriented.
Watch the video to explore this framework more deeply.
If you are building leaders, teams, or cultures that need to last, let’s start the conversation.