Daniel A. Bochner, Ph.D.

You are a cog in the Great Life Machine! The machine has a multitude of working parts, all of which fit together in an extensive and magnificent way. Whether you know it or not, you are part of this comprehensive and ubiquitous system of life. As you do what you do, others react in particular ways, and then you react in your way. Your strengths and weaknesses are expressed and become part of your every interaction. As a part of the Great Life Machine, it's important that you are functioning well, for your sake and for others. If you're working well, you'll feel well, while you'll also help to keep all the other parts of the machine functioning properly.           

Because it is so essential that you function well within this Great Life Machine, the first subsection of Individuals in Relationships will begin with a focus on making changes in your life. That is, "Getting You Working Well." As the title of this subsection suggests, people often feel like they need to change, and getting people functioning and feeling well is, of course, a primary focus of this book.

Often in getting better or making changes it becomes important to understand how things have fallen apart or how they have developed. The second subsection here will thus be "Troubleshooting for Wear and Tear." Getting to the bottom of who we are and why we are that way, including an understanding of what makes us really good at things, leads to a better understanding of the choices we make in moving forward.

There are so many common concerns related to living in general, and living well among other people, that the third subsection was designed to cover "Your Everyday Maintenance in Interactions" with others. This subsection focuses on many of the common issues we all encounter throughout life.

Finally, because there are so many effective ways of maintaining a healthy life as an individual, the fourth area of focus is "Tools for Maintenance and Lubrication: Caring For You and Your Communication with Others." Several tools for self-care are discussed in this subsection primarily aiming at making the individual more successful among others.

Clearly it is essential that everyone take good care of themselves if they are going to feel good and work well within the Great Life Machine. Although as an individual, everyone is merely a small part of the greater system, for each individual person it is only in their own life that they have full responsibility and where they have any real control. If it can be assumed that it is healthy to care for others, and to have a general desire for fairness in life, then responsibly seeking that which is best for oneself, mental health, leads to being the best possible component part in the Great Life Machine.