Stop the presses. Somebody figured out the
number one thing that makes relationships work.
The Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science has published the results of a major study in which researchers analyzed data from nearly 44,000 participants. Researchers claim to have zeroed in on the top factor in healthy relationships. It’s something called psychological flexibility.
Here’s how the British Psychological Society explains the term in its Research Digest:
A psychologically flexible person is characterized by a set of attitudes and skills: they are generally open to and accepting of experiences, whether they are good or bad; they try to be mindfully aware of the present moment; they experience difficult thoughts without ruminating on them; they seek to maintain a broader perspective when faced with a challenge; they continue to pursue important goals despite setbacks; and they maintain contact with deeper values, no matter how stressful a day might be.