DON'T TRADE SYNERGY FOR ENERGY!

This is a picture of a triangle depicting how synergy works (1 + 1 = 4). Two triangles may be combined to create the tetrahedron, a figure volumetrically embraced by four triangles.

Why in the world did I put this picture on my blog today? Look at the title of my post:

"Don't Trade Synergy for Energy!"

What does this mean for couples?

Simply put, a couple is made up of two people who, alone, are entities of energy (2) but when together, are entities of synergy (4).

And what is synergy? I'm glad you asked.

Let's look at energy first. The word energy is defined as "the potential for causing changes." Also, this definition: "The ability to do work."

Sounds pretty good. We, as couples, have lots of "work" to do, such as establishing and maintaining a home, being parents perhaps, being good citizens, doing good in our communities, etc. We are each producing energy.

Synergy, on the other hand, means "working together." Specifically, it refers to "the phenomenon in which two or more agents acting together to create an effect greater than the effect by separate agents." Interestingly, according to wikipedia.com, synergy "stems from the 1657 theological doctrine that humans will cooperate with the divine grace in regeneration."

More:

"Synergy usually arises when two persons with different complementary skills cooperate."

And, in revenue:

"A revenue synergy refers to the opportunity of a combined corporate entity to generate more revenue than its two predecessor standalone companies would be able to generate."

And, in computers and humans:

"Computers can process data much faster than humans, but lack common sense. When a person uses a computer, his/her thoughts are translated into efficient processing of data."

Again, what does this have to do with couples? Well, your mate may be disappointing the dickens out of you--or, hurting your feelings, or, not living up to your expectations, or, irritating you, or, __________________________ (you fill in the blank), and you're tempted to bail out.

I'm here to tell you that there's a synergy between you and your spouse, and if you ditch him/her, you'll only be energy.

Put another way, you and your spouse as a couple can produce greater effects together than the two of you separately (synergy).

Does that make sense?

Milton and I have been told we have synergy. Where I'm talented and good at things, he may not be, but where he's talented and good at things, I may not be, and when we work together, our strengths join and produce much more good than the sum total of the two of us.

Like I showed you at the beginning:

1 + 1 = 4.

Pretty neat, huh?