The Daily Motivation How To Find THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP | Esther Perel
Jan 29, 2026
Esther Perel, Belgian-born psychotherapist and bestselling author known for work on intimacy and modern relationships. She explores why love feels so hard. She contrasts traditional fixed rules with today’s negotiable bonds. She discusses how networked societies and a fragile sense of self reshape commitment and desire.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Tight Rules To Loose Threads
- Relationships are harder now because social rules and roles that once guided behavior have loosened.
- We now negotiate identities and obligations rather than inherit them, creating more uncertainty and choice.
Negotiate Roles, Don’t Assume Them
- Ask and negotiate key life questions (children, career moves, roles) explicitly with partners.
- Treat previously assumed rules as topics for conversation rather than implicit expectations.
Network Society Creates Fragile Bonds
- Modern 'network societies' create loose commitments where relationships can be revoked quickly.
- That fragility forces people into constant negotiation about roles, careers, and family choices.