2 Masters of Love. Only three in ten marriages remain happy and healthy long after their wedding toast. What is the secret for those living happily ever after? Four decades of studies say it is kindness and generosity. Couples who are “Masters of Love” feel calm, connected, warm, and affectionate toward each other. Emotionally, physically, they are comfortable together because they have shared trust and intimacy. For those that are “Disasters of Love,” the number one factor that divides a couple is contempt, criticizing your partner for this or that thing, often seeing the negative. The takeaway here: if you want to have a lasting relationship get on the kindness bandwagon. If you are already in a tenuous relationship, there is still hope. Try applying the tips from the “Masters of Love.” So, today, buy some flowers, go someplace romantic, and whisper a sweet “I love you because…” to your significant other. Then, keep doing and saying thoughtful things in the days to come.
3 Love, Honor, and Thank. As a companion to the previous article is one about how couples view the division of household chores. A hot-button that I think is universally relatable, whether you are romantically involved or only roommates. An often-cited source of friction in a relationship is over who is doing what. The other one is how often things get done around the house. Do you have to nag to get the garbage taken out? Is it just assumed that it “your job” to do it versus the other person? What this article keys into is that people have a different tolerance level for things, like how full a garbage pail needs to be before feeling motivated to empty it, as well as whose job it is to do it. As people living together, it helps to recognize and navigate these perceptions. Then, there is one other critical element, gratitude. A successful relationship depends on how partners express gratitude for the work the other one puts into keeping up the house. If you find yourself asking, “Why does he not see it?” or “Why does she not do it?” I invite you to read this article.
4Thnx4. On the day we celebrate love, it is essential, I think, to wrap this precious gift with gratitude. If you looked at the previous articles, you understand how significant appreciation is in relationships. It is also true elsewhere in your everyday life. There are physical and psychological benefits that go along with the expression of thanks. You are more likely to take care of yourself, have fewer aches and pains, feel less resentment, frustration, or depression. However, for some, having or showing gratitude does not come easy. Here is an online source that can help one develop the habit of saying “thanks” by keeping an interactive gratitude journal. So far, those who have tried it for just two weeks showed notable increases in happiness, resilience to stress, and overall life satisfaction. The research on keeping a gratitude journal consistently shows that it causes people to be twenty-five percent happier. That seems a small trade for feeling better about, well, pretty much everything in life.
5 31 Priceless Love Quotes for Every Lover Out There. Love can be the highest of highs as well as the lowest of lows. Many of these quotes about love capture the passion and beauty of being in it. Others offer the hope that after a heartbreak, one can still go on to find love another day. My favorite is from one of our national treasures, Maya Angelou, “Love recognizes zero barriers.”
Also, something hopeful for those who are single, 6 Mantras To Recite If You’re Single On Valentine’s Day & Trying To Embrace It. I like, “You are never alone” and “I am open to all possibilities – today and every day.”
6 Love, Gratitude Meditation. This meditation is one that I often use when teaching new meditators or when I am working with people from different meditation practices because everyone can relate to love and gratitude. Try this: breathe in slowly through your nose, silently saying, “love.” Then, slowly breathe out, silently saying, “gratitude.” Sound simple? It is and profoundly effective. Start with five minutes. Each time you meditate, increase the length of time you sit. I often meditate for thirty minutes at the start of my day.
Jim B.