10/08/2024
3 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship
I was surprised to find October can be the perfect time to plant in your garden before it gets cooler. Come spring, what you’ve sown will be fruitful (hopefully!)
Relationships are that way, too—it is never a bad time to invest in them, even in the winter. Here are three simple ways to start strengthening your relationship:
1. Prioritize Emotional Connection
Take time to check in with your loved one on a heart level. Stumped on ways to check in? How about these beauties:
🌱 “I was thinking about the time you [insert thoughtful act]. It stays with me, and I wonder if you knew how much it meant.”
🌱 “How can I be praying (or rooting) for you? Is there anything weighing on your heart?”
🌱 “Which of the love languages resonates for you? (Words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, or physical touch) Why is it important to you?”
2. Practice Active Listening
Listening to understand, not just to respond. It is so tempting to give advice or wait only to say what you want. Phones are also a huge temptation. Try putting your phones on a time-out for a certain time each day to prioritize one another.
3. Show Appreciation Daily
Small gestures of appreciation can be powerful. A kind word or a note can lighten your person’s day. Even leaving a post-it note somewhere with a note, “So proud of you!” can bring you both closer together.
Which one of the three would you like to try? They can go a long way in tending to your relationship garden. And you may not have to wait until spring to enjoy a harvest!
