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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Us summary
Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship
20 mins
Brief summary
Us by Terrence Real is a relationship guide that helps couples overcome the challenges of long-term relationships. It explores the gender differences in romantic relationships and provides practical tools for improving communication, intimacy, and trust.
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Us
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Key idea 1 of 4
You can overcome toxic emotional habits.
If you’re in a relationship, this scenario might be familiar. It begins with something trivial – think a dish left unwashed in the sink. You ask your partner why they haven’t cleaned it; they reply, maybe a little snappily, that they haven’t gotten around to it yet. All of a sudden, you’re both feeling tense. Defensive. Things escalate. Now, much bigger emotions are coursing through you: rage, hatred, contempt. You’re both yelling, dredging up old disagreements and hurling insults. Or, you’re giving each other the silent treatment with stony eyes. You’ve forgotten that the person you’re fighting with is the same person who laughs at your jokes and holds you when you're sad. Your rational brain has left the building, and all your worst emotional habits have kicked in and taken over.
Why does this happen? The field of interpersonal neurobiology, which looks at the individual’s brain cognition in the context of her relationships with others, has some answers. The reason you and your partner are so good at driving each other crazy is that people in close relationships tend to coregulate. That means when your partner's levels of the stress hormone cortisol spike, your cortisol levels are apt to rise too. Similarly, when your partner is relaxed, you’re likely to feel relaxed too.
That’s part of the picture. But what about all those toxic emotional reactions that come into play when you and your partner disagree? That, too, has a lot to do with your relationships with others. You learned your stress reactions – whether they’re to yell, lie, or retreat into silence — in the context of your earliest relationships. For most of us, that means we absorbed the stress responses that were modeled by our families, and especially by our parents.
When things are going smoothly, most of us are wise adults. We think with our prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for measured, complex cognition. We’re rational, flexible, warm, forgiving. We know that one dirty dish isn’t the end of the world. But when we’re under stress, another region of our brain, the amygdala, takes charge and stimulates a fight-or-flight response. In fight-or-flight situations, we’re only concerned with self-preservation – we feel we don’t have time to think things through, so we act on instinct. This is when the adaptive child emerges. Your adaptive child is a creature of emotional habit, using all the stress responses you learned when you were young. Whether this adaptive child is cruelly domineering, a people-pleasing doormat, or something in between, they are always rigid in their thought patterns and behaviors.
Sometimes, when you and your partner fight, your wise adult selves leave the room, leaving two adaptive children. All of a sudden, your worst habits and most destructive emotional impulses are triggered. But there is some good news. Just because your adaptive child automatically takes over doesn’t mean it always has to be like this. Scientists used to assume that the neural pathways of our brains were set in stone. These pathways calcified into habits, behaviors, and traits – in other words, our basic characteristics. If you were a person with a bad temper, that trait was yours for life. Now, scientists know that – through the process known as neuroplasticity – neural pathways can rewire and reform. In other words, we are capable of phenomenal change.
Let’s go back to that dirty dish. When the fight spun out of control, you and your partner weren’t acting as wise adults. Wise adults know preserving the relationship – the “us” – is more important than individual point-scoring. Instead, you were two “I”s battling it out.
Here’s what you need to know: when one “I” wins, the loser is always “us.” But it is possible to break free from toxic behaviors, to approach conflicts as wise adults, to stop thinking in terms of “I” – and reframe your relationship in terms of “us.”
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What is Us about?
Us (2022) is for anyone whose once-loving relationship has devolved into point-scoring and power struggles. It offers a science-based skill set, illustrated with rich and detailed examples, to help you and your partner heal your toxic individualism and your relationship.
Us Review
Us (2017) by Terrence Real is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities within intimate relationships and how they can be improved. Here's why this book is worth diving into:
- It offers a refreshing perspective on relationships, delving into the underlying dynamics and providing insights that challenge traditional notions.
- Real combines personal stories, research findings, and therapeutic techniques to create a well-rounded guide that feels practical and relevant.
- The book's honest and relatable tone makes it easy to connect with, ensuring that readers will find it engaging and empathetic throughout.
Who should read Us?
- Couples who find themselves having the same fight over and over again
- Partners whose disagreements turn melodramatic within minutes
- Anyone dealing with a breach of trust in a close relationship
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Us FAQs
What is the main message of Us?
The main message of Us is the importance of understanding and healing relationship patterns to create a thriving partnership.
How long does it take to read Us?
The reading time for Us varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Us a good book? Is it worth reading?
Us is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their relationship. With practical insights and guidance, it provides a fresh perspective on love and connection.
Who is the author of Us?
The author of Us is Terrence Real.
What to read after Us?
If you're wondering what to read next after Us, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Power Relationships by Andrew Sobel and Jerold Panas
- Making Great Relationships by Rick Hanson
- Closer to Love by Vex King
- How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
- Good Judgment by Richard Davis
- The Man's Guide to Women by John Gottman
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
- Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday