‘How to be an adult in relationships’ by David Richo

This insightful book highlights the role of mindfulness and the compassionate awareness it brings to the complexity of being in long-term committed relationships. Five keys to mindful loving are identified as attention, acceptance, appreciation, affection and allowing. These keys open us to unconditional presence in our relationships and are contrasted with the five mindsets of ego which close us down: fear, desire, judgement, control and illusion. Whilst these mindsets of ego may be accurate – though they often aren’t – they interfere with our experience of the present. Richo’s gentle guide to effective relationships provides insights and practices that support increasing depth in relating.