Change First Principle and Breaking Old Relationship Pattterns

Sometimes I see couples having a difficult time breaking out of old patterns.  Here are a few ideas for breaking out of some relationship patterns.  One idea is to both agree to make changes together.  If you are accountable to the other person and you know that they are putting in work to make changes then it is easier to commit to the changes in your own personal life.  Some couples want their partner to change and if they do not see changes in their partner they are unwilling to make changes for themselves.  What can help break this pattern is adopting the change first principle, which is making changes in your own life first, and if your partner does not respond and make changes, you at least have improved your life.  What I see is if a couple adopts the change first principle their partner is more likely to be more open and willing to make changes in their own life.