February is the month of love - an opportunity to celebrate the most powerful emotion a man or woman can feel. Valentine’s day already passed and you probably realized by now that this emotion - love - is so important for fulfillment in life.
SO WHY NOT CELEBRATE IT ALL YEAR LONG?
We know that this is a highly commercialized day that implies a significant investment for some people and a stressful day, too. Most people try so hard to have the perfect romantic dinner or get the most extravagant gift for Valentine’s day -which is not necessarily a bad thing for the occasion- but forget to feed their love the rest of the year. It’s much more than about the gift. You probably know that.
So why not changing things around a little bit? What if Valentine’s Day is not only on February 14th but every single day of the year where you can nourish your love every day and feel happy.
You might be wondering how to do this. And the secret is in -drums rolling-: generating a culture of appreciation all year long.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A CULTURE OF APPRECIATION:
Marriage is a project for life between you and your partner in which you two invest effort. Appreciation to each other is one of the nutrients needed to feed the relationship and make it successful. Don’t get trapped in the hustle and bustle of daily activities. Stop one minute and say something nice to your partner. But why is it important to adopt the culture of appreciation in your relationship?
BECAUSE:
Makes you feel loved: Feeling loved by your partner and knowing he/she cares about you and that you have someone to fall back on is important for our self-esteem and our sense of security.
Encourages positive behaviors: By verbalizing what you are proud of or like about your spouse, you encourage positive behaviors. Try telling your spouse one thing you appreciate about him/her at least once a day.
Elevates the mood: Feeling appreciated by your partner makes you feel good about yourself and the effects can last all day long.
Makes you feel more attached to each other: When you feel appreciated it can lead to more sex. Yes! You read right: many consider appreciation part of foreplay-caliente!
Easy to be applied: If you are in love with your spouse, I am sure it will be easy to show your appreciation.
Now, this new habit can work perfectly with your family members, too. Look up for more positive effects of having a culture of appreciation at home.
HERE ARE 10 PRACTICAL TIPS TO START SHOWING YOUR APPRECIATION:
Say “please” and “thank you” as much as you can for everything you ask your spouse to do for you or the family. Use other synonyms of “thank you” because the word can get worn out too quickly and loose its magic. Other ways to say thank you can be: I really like it when… or it means a lot to me when….
Whenever there’s a chance, say a compliment like: “Your hair looks amazing today” or “I love how you cook the pasta”.
Give your spouse a surprise present you know he/she likes. It could be something simple like a box of chocolates, a gift certificate, etc.
Create a quality time tradition to be applied on a daily basis, such as having a cup of tea or wine together every night before going to bed or having a conversation on the patio every night after the kids go to bed.
Start dating your spouse. Go to different places every time you can. Have fun planning things to do on dates that you both enjoy.
Speak well about your spouse to others.
Ask your spouse about what makes him/her feel appreciated and do it.
Do laundry, cook dinner or take on a task your spouse does regularly from time to time so your partner can rest.
Remind your spouse why and how you love him/her. Writing it down on a piece of paper or a card can also have a very powerful effect.
Be there for him/her whenever is needed.
Every day you have a great opportunity to practice appreciation for your partner and make him/her feel special. Giving feels good. The more you give, the more you receive. It’s a natural occurrence. These simple actions are so effective to keep your romantic relationship alive!
If you liked this article and think it can help somebody else out there, share it!
To your relationship success!
Your Therapy Friend,
Sofia
Sofia Robirosa is the owner of Infinite Therapeutic Services and is a Relationships & Parenting Expert. She offers individual, couples, and family counseling to individuals seeking to enhance their relationships. Her private practice is located in Plantation, FL. She attended Nova Southeastern University for both her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and in Business Administration. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Leader in Active Parenting for children and teens, an evidenced based program. She is also a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP). She is a passionately committed therapist, who thoroughly takes pride and joy from her job. She enjoys working with a culturally diverse population and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and an active volunteer of the Broward Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She loves her family, which consists of her husband, daughter, and two dogs. Some of her interests outside of work include spending time outdoors, traveling, and dining. Read more about her at: www.infinitetherapeuticservices.com and follow her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/infinitetherapy/
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