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Does the unknown freak you out too?
Seven Circles is meant to strengthen your relationship with your partner through discussion, reflection, and overall, an openness to try something, well, new!
Personally, I find the unknown absolutely terrifying. It’s why I have watched Gilmore Girls probably 30 times. What happens if I watch a show I’ve never seen before? It might be too scary, too sad, or boring and I’ll feel like I’ve wasted my time! The same can be said for starting a relationship program: what if my partner doesn’t have the same communication style as me? What if I strongly disagree with one of their answers? What if we fight too much?
The possible answers to those what-ifs can be scary. So I’d like to offer an answer of my own: so what?! If the answer is that the show freaks me out, I won’t watch it again. If the answer is that my partner and I have different communication styles, or we disagree about something, we ideally work through it together with knowledge, understanding, and respect. After all, isn’t being Jewish about persevering through the scary and coming up with something good?
Maybe when you start out (or continue) Seven Circles with your partner, you can try to hold all these feelings at once. And know that hopefully, with your partner by your side, all the newness won’t feel so scary.
Author: Maris Rosenfeld, Community Education and Outreach Coordinator at SHALVA. Her comfort show is indeed Gilmore Girls, but she’s trying to branch out and watch new shows like Nobody Wants This.
