Every person has a blind spot in their eye. If you would like to learn why and how to find it, follow the instructions in this video.
How do we not constantly have a hole in our vision because of the blind spot? Because we have two eyes, and they both have a slightly different perspective than the other. If our two eyes could somehow be in the exact same place, then they would have the same blind spots. Likewise, if you pair two people together who are exactly the same, then they will have the same blind spots and the same weaknesses. One of the best things we can do, especially when looking for an eternal companion, to is to surround ourselves with people who are not weak where we are weak, people who do not have the same blind spot that we do. If our goal is to get back to Heavenly Father, while we date, we should consider are our own weaknesses and needs and how they compliment those of our companion. Pitfall #6 is making no effort to marry someone who is different than ourselves.
A ‘deal-breaker’ is an essential similarity, a ‘need’ is an essential difference. We need to find someone who can see in an area where we are blind. Marriage is not just about physical gratification and it is not just about having a best friend, it is about partnering with someone who will get you to the Celestial Kingdom. It is divinely appointed that marriage is to be between a man and a woman, two genders of the same species who have different perspectives that compliment each other. Are you going to be the type of person who readily acknowledges your weaknesses and invites people into your life that help you with those weaknesses? Or are you going to be the type who decides that you will be fine on your own?
What weaknesses do you have? What kind of person would fill in those gaps? To figure out what your weaknesses are, you can ask the Lord, you can listen to what others have said are your weaknesses, and you can read your patriarchal blessing. Ask yourself what people have accused you of. What areas keep causing you pain? These are things we need to consider if we want to avoid pitfall #6.
When it comes to raising children, it becomes increasingly critical to have parents that whose weaknesses compliment the other’s. If my mom was exactly like my dad then my siblings and I would rarely eat anything healthy. If my dad was exactly like my mom then we would not get much as much emotional understanding. It is because they are different that they are able to give their children a more balanced upbringing.
Obviously, you should not marry someone who is completely opposite to you, and it is okay to be similar to your partner, but it is important to factor in your needs when you are looking for an eternal companion. Next we will look at pitfalls #7 and #8, regarding when to get into a relationship and when to leave one.