Posts Tagged ‘Relationship Health’

Posted by The Love Birds at 1 February , 2010

This month is all about love.  Valentine’s Day is coming up and love is in the air!   We aren’t opposed to Valentine’s Day but we certainly hope that you are showing your partner love all year long…every day…not just when the stores and advertisements say you should.   We recommend you get started now, instead of waiting until the 14th.  Here are some tips that can show your partner that love is indeed in the air:

  1. Know your partner’s love language.  If you don’t know it or know what we are talking about, then we recommend the book, The Five Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman.  Dr. Chapman explains that there are five love languages or ways to show love:  words of affirmation, gifts, quality time, physical touch, and acts of service.  Problems can occur when we show our partner love in one language (i.e. buying her flowers) but he/she speaks another love language (i.e. wanting to spend quality time with you instead). 

  2. Start secretly showing love for your partner in small ways every single day using their love language.  Have fun trying to think of new ways to express your love.  For some ideas, see # 3.

  3. Remember, expressing love for your partner does not have to cost money!  Write your partner love notes and hide them (of course, where you know they will find them).  Give your partner lots of hugs and kisses when they first wake up, when they get home, and before they go to sleep.  Tell your partner the many reasons why you love them.  Write them a love letter or poem. Do one of their chores each day, etc.

  4. Plan a surprise “pleasure event” every week for your partner.  For example, how about surprising your partner with a bubble bath with rose petals, candles, soft music, and a glass of wine?  Or maybe cooking a nice dinner for your partner and serving it to him/her naked or in sexy lingerie?  Plan a romantic picnic on the living room floor while listening to your special love songs or reading erotic stories to each other.  How about surprising your partner by trying something new sexually (i.e. a new toy, a new position or a new sexual fantasy character, etc.)?

  5. Remember to be thankful for your partner every day!

Wishing you more connection and much love!

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Posted by The Love Birds at 2 June , 2009

In May, Dr. Wayne Dyer launched his new book, Excuses Begone! How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits. This is a wonderful book about how your excuses hold you back from living the kind of life you want to live. “It’s too risky.” “I’m too busy.” “I can’t afford it.” “All excuses are misalignments,” Wayne says. “You can indeed change anything about yourself. Don’t underestimate your own personal ability to make just that happen.”

How does this relate to relationships? Well, unfortunately, everyday we hear all kinds of excuses from couples that are preventing them from reaching their relationship goals. This is so sad because the majority of these couples have the desire and ability to change but get stopped short by their excuses and negative thinking. Thus, in honor of Dr. Dyer’s new book, we decided to share with you the top 5 relationship excuses we hear so often from couples.

1. “We are too busy.” or “We don’t have enough time.” We hear this too often. We act and behave based on our values, thus what they are really saying is, “We are choosing to make other things (kids, work, etc.) a priority”. This could be one of the factors for such a high divorce rate.
2. “We are too tired.” This is definitely related with number 1. Today, people are so busy with everything else; they are not slowing down long enough to recharge their own batteries, so to speak. How can you give to anyone or anything, including your relationship, if you are not giving to yourself? This goes back to a saying discussed by Dr. Dyer, “You can’t give what you don’t have.”
3. “You shouldn’t have to work on relationships.” In fairytales maybe, but in real life, relationships do take effort and work. We would like to know who came up with this excuse. What in life does not take work and even effort to maintain? We work on and maintain our cars, houses, yards, etc. A relationship requires attention and effort on a daily basis. This relationship “work” however, doesn’t have to be bad or even hard.
4. “Why bother, he/she won’t change.” This excuse is putting all the power and responsibility on the other partner to change. Change can and does begin with you. Start focusing on the changes you need to make in the relationship. Sometimes when you make healthy relationship changes, it can help motivate your partner to make healthy relationship changes too.
5. “We don’t have the money.” We often hear this when people first call for information about our counseling/coaching services. Yes, we understand the economy and the increased concerns and worries about finances. However, what is the cost emotionally and financially of breaking up a relationship? Or the cost of a divorce, emotionally and financially? Change can happen by reading a relationship book, attending relationship workshops, or even attending counseling sessions. Thus, relationship change doesn’t have to break the bank.

What excuses are currently holding you back from having the kind of relationship you want to have? If you need help challenging these excuses, please feel free to contact us. As always, wishing you deeper connection and passion!

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Posted by The Love Birds at 15 March , 2009

Wow…we can’t believe it’s already March!  Time truly does fly when you’re having fun.  February was a very busy but  truly fun month for us.  In fact, just this past weekend,  we had a lot of fun at the  8 on Your Side Health and Fitness Expo.  We had the privilege of having a booth at the expo to promote something very near and dear to our hearts…relationship health (which we feel is right up there on the importance scale with one’s physical health!). 
 
We were amazed as we watched people walk by our booth.   There were so many people who are serious about their physical health and fitness…in other words, running and cycling are not just a hobby or a “have to” to them.  They were actually interested and excited about exercising (like we would act at a chocolate, relationship, and/or sexuality expo)!  We even learned that many of the people who came to the expo actually came from out of town to run in the Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K and 5K races!  Wow!!  We learned so much from being there and many of the lessons can actually be applied to relationships: 
 
1.  It takes a lot of focus and hard work   
We definitely learned that this “working out” thing takes a lot of focus and hard work!   The amount of hours and training that is involved..wow!  And hopefully there is no surprise here…so does a relationship.  It takes focus and conscious effort to work on and nurture a healthy relationship over time.  
 
2.  Persistence, dedication, and commitment pays off
 
We learned this from the many runners who ran in the Gasparilla races.   We’re sure that lots of runners had many thoughts of quitting and giving up throughout the race, but they didn’t.  They remained committed to the process and chose to forge on.  This can also apply to relationships as well.  When things get difficult in your relationship, do you quit or do you remain committed to working things out even if it means seeking help from a professional?   The key here is that both people need to be willing and able to make individual changes to work on the relationship.   (However, we definitely understand and agree that there are situations when it is actually healthier to leave an unhealthy relationship.)

3.  It helps to have good equipment and supplies (“tools in your relationship tool bag”)
 
We saw many vendors selling exercise shoes, clothing and equipment such as the T-Roller (www.T-Roller.com) to help the athletes perform at their best.  It is just as important to have healthy tools in your relationship tool bag.  The tools include but are not limited to healthy communication skills, relationship empowerment tools, books, relationship coaches and counselors, and other resources to help you perform at your relational best.
 
4.  Having a support system 
 
Just like with exercising, it’s important to have a support system for the relationship.   You and your partner are each other’s support system.  You’re a team that is, hopefully, working on the same relationship goals.  Since we know change is difficult, support and lots of positive reinforcement is very important.  This also means being willing to seek outside support from a professional when needed. 
 
Again, we believe that focusing on your relationship health is just as important as your personal health.  Thus, this month we challenge you, if you have not already started, to start making your relationship health a priority.  We wish you more connection and much love.   Please feel free to contact us with topics you would like us to address.

Many blessings! 

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