ABSTRACT
Essay VII,”A Well-Lived Life--A Gestalt Perspective,” presented a Gestalt view of the well-lived life for the individual person. However, that is only part of the story. The authentic life--a life which truthfully expresses who a person is and embodies the values he has embraced--is never lived in isolation from others. The present essay addresses the complementary question of the nature of authentic relationships, that is, relationships which truthfully express the values which are implicit in the life of the authentic person as a social being. My intention is to draw out some of the implications of Gestalt theory and practice for several types relationships which are important elements in human life.
