Relationship Nourishment

When we think of something that nourishes us, our mind goes straight to food. But what nourishes us on a far deeper level are relationships, health, physical activity, career and spirituality. They are all so important because these other forms of nourishment are what make us feel whole, balanced, fulfilled, healthy,and connected.

Relationships can often be the hardest of the bunch to navigate! We all want a healthy relationship but with all the demands of life such as kids, work, trying to get to the gym or a yoga class, taking care of a home, and making time for family and friends, how do we find time to devote to our significant other?

Here are 8 secrets for a happy relationship:

Make Self-Care a priority. We've all heard it before...put the oxygen mask on yourself first before putting it on anyone else. By being kind to yourself and showing self-love, you'll be better able to feel and show love to others.

Recognize that no relationship is perfect. It's only natural to have arguments and not see eye-to-eye on things. Allow yourself to be happy in your relationship, even though it's not perfect.

Stop comparing your relationship to others. Facebook and Instagram (though we love them!), have created a false sense of perfection in every aspect of life. We all tend to post the positive (which is great and uplifting!) but this can present a skewed picture of the lives of others. When we fall into the trap of comparison, we falsely think that others have these ideal, perfect relationships and we're the only ones who don't. Don't buy into this. Social media gives us mere glimpses into the lives of our friends, not the entire picture. Be happy for your friends doing amazing things, but also be happy for your life and your relationship. Gratitude is so helpful with letting go of comparison.

Do things together that you both love…and do them often! This could be watching a favorite series together (Game of Thrones is our favorite!), going on hikes, doing a workout together, going to your favorite restaurant for a date night, or just stay at home and cuddle and talk. Spending a few hours each week doing something you both love can do wonders for a relationship. My husband and I make a point to have a dinner out with a glass of wine every week. It’s our favorite thing to do together.

Make room for separate time. This is just as important as together time. Having the right balance between you as individuals and you as a couple does wonders for the growth and success of a relationship. I love time with my girlfriends as well as being in nature. My husband loves historical places and politics. By carving out time apart to do the things you really love, it creates more space for growth and appreciation when you’re together.

Plan a trip together. It doesn’t have to be an expensive trip to Europe, a night in a hotel away from kids and responsibilities can do wonders for a relationship.

Focus on being Positive. We all carry an energy with us. Have you ever been in the presence of someone negative and you can feel the negativity oozing out of their pours? You leave this person feeling exhausted! Make the decision each day to leave the negativity at the door, even if you’ve had the worse day ever. Take 10 deep breaths before you walk in the door to let go of the day and shift your mindset to positivity. It will make your partner feel loved and appreciated, and not a dumping ground for your stress and negative emotions.

Compliment each other every day. We all love to receive compliments, especially from those we care about most. It makes us feel good and that we are still attractive to our partner. Make this a daily practice and watch our your relationship blossoms.

If you found this helpful and are searching to improve the main areas of your life (health, physical activity, spirituality, career and relationships), I can help you. Click on "Book a Consultation" for a free 30 minute call to find out more!