These tips can help to establish, strengthen, and rediscover connection, passion, and joy in your relationship.
It is that time of year where social media gets bombarded with declarations of love, the shop windows turn pink and red and we start to focus on our love life often whilst comparing our relationship to what we perceive others peoples relationships to be. Like everything compared through the rose tinted glasses of Instagram we can find our relationship comes up lacking. If you are feeling like the fire has gone out in your relationship, here is my valentines gift to you.
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”
-Mignon McLaughlin
Whether you have been married for 20 years or are in a new committed relationship these tips can help to establish, strengthen, and rediscover connection, passion, and joy in your relationship.
1. Focus on what YOU can change. not how you want your partner to change. Waiting for your partner to change will only leave you feeling frustrated and helpless. Take this time to consider what YOU bring to your relationship and your own personal growth. It is inevitable that your partner will be affected by the changes that you make.
2. Listen first, then talk. How often do you interrupt with defensive explanations or advice? People will listen more when they feel listened too. Notice how you begin to feel more connected and listened to when it’s your turn to share.
3. Focus on the good stuff. Where focus goes energy flows. No one is perfect, whether you focus on their admirable qualities or their faults will have a huge impact on your relationship. Let’s say you view your partner as 90% admirable and 10% faults. If you only focus on their faults, that 10% gets 100% of your attention which is devastating you any relationship. Instead, focus on the good stuff, verbalise your appreciation every day. Before long you will see the impact relationship and what they notice about you too.
4. Redefine what it means to be in a happy relationship. We all had this fairy tale image of what marriage and family life would be like. And then there is the reality. The good news is that you can have most of what you imagined if you shift your mindset and think about what it is that you really need and what actions you can take to make a mental shift. We would all be a lot happier if we acknowledged that the only person who can ever really make us happy is us!
5. Know their love language. Do you know your partners preferred way of expressing and receiving love? There are five love languages and unless you know your own and each other’s it can be difficult to consistently meet each other’s expectations and needs for love. You can find out more about the 5 love languages and take the test here.
6. It’s the little things that count. Simple things such as receiving a loving greeting, or offering a cup of tea without having to ask to make a huge difference to how appreciated we feel. Make a commitment to do “little things” every day to show your appreciation to your partner and keep the sparks alive.
7. Couples meetings. Set aside time each week for a couples meeting. Inordinately I would suggest doing this outside the home on neutral ground, perhaps the garden or a walk if that is possible. Start the meeting with appreciations, next brainstorm solutions to items on the agenda, choose a solution to try it for the week. End each meeting by doing something fun together. It helps to have a list of things you both want to do prepared that you can add to and tick off.
8. You are still a couple despite having kids. Schedule time for the two of you and make sure it happens. What did you do when you first met that you have stopped doing since having kids? Be imaginative! When spending special time, talk about your interests instead of focusing on the family. Transforming your relationship is one of the most meaningful things you can do for your child and it can have a huge impact on their quality of life as well as your own. So, don’t feel guilty for taking time out for yourselves as a couple.
9. Give each other space. None of us has been in this situation before, we all need our own time and space to switch off, deal with our own stuff or just be. Relationships need balance. Spending time as a family, a couple but also as individuals. Respect each other need to do individual activities and make time for it without resentment.
9. Give each other space. None of us has been in this situation before, we all need our own time and space to switch off, deal with our own stuff or just be. Relationships need balance. Spending time as a family, a couple but also as individuals. Respect each other need to do individual activities and make time for it without resentment.
10. Laughter is the best medicine. Laughter is good for the soul and great for your relationship. A sense of humour can create magic in a relationship, especially when things get tense. When you see yourself getting too serious, look for the humour in the situation.
I hope you find this helpful, if you need any help with your relationship and want to talk please get in touch through the usual channels.
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