Love Beyond Valentine's Day: Cultivating Year-Round Relationship Goals
Love isn't confined to a single calendar day, yet every year, as February 14th approaches, couples around the globe scramble to express their love in grand fashion. It begs the question – is Valentine's Day overrated? More importantly, how do we nurture the values in relationships that fuel love beyond the confines of special dates? To all the couples working together on their journey of love and partnership, this is your guide to shaping relationship goals that thrive 365 days a year.
The Hallmark Dilemma: Is Valentine's Day Overrated?
Valentine's Day sure knows how to paint the town red with its roses, chocolates, and heart-shaped declarations of love. All I need is a Reese's cup! But here's an energetic burst of truth for you – it's possible, and arguably more meaningful, to show love to your partner every day without the price tag of commercialized romance. Chris does this so well. :)
Reflect on this: isn't love about the deep, enduring values you create and uphold within your relationship? It's about understanding, trust, cooperation, and the shared laughs and tears that are far too vast to be bottled up into a single day.
Cultivate Love Every Day: Your Relationship Goals Refresh
The pitfalls of comparison in this digital age where social media influencers cast a glossy sheen over their lives. Just remember that the snippets you see are curated highlights, a dazzling showreel that masks the raw, unfiltered experiences that truly shape a partnership. Take these relationship goals at face value and capture the pieces you admire. When we find couples whose love stories are rooted in principles that echo our own, we are not comparing but rather, fueling our journey with positive energy and aspirations. These authentic bonds reveal substance, commitment in the face of challenges, and devotion that's not just displayed but deeply lived. Don't let these pixel-perfect portrayals dishearten you. Use them as inspiration. but never let comparison dim the brilliant light of your own relationship's narrative.
Embrace the Unseen Beauty of Authentic Moments
Let's lean into the raw, authentic beauty that every day with our significant other brings. Here are a few ways to keep your relationship on top:
1. Embrace Authenticity
Be real with each other, always. Authenticity is the heartbeat of any relationship. It underpins trust, respect, and understanding. Let's ditch the pressure of grand Valentine's Day gestures and focus on the everyday acts of sincerity. Share genuine compliments, offer heartfelt thanks for the daily stuff, and cherish the honest conversations that stitch the fabric of your bond.
2. Empower Financial Unity
For couples working on their money together, financial goals are relationship goals. Align your ambitions and tackle financial planning and management as a duo, creating a secure foundation that transcends any one day of the year. Budget with love and as a team. Invest in your shared dreams. Then when Valentine's Day does roll around it feels like a natural opportunity to just show more love without overspending unnecessarily.
3. Communicate Value Everyday
Values in relationships are the compass by which to navigate your shared existence. Communicate your appreciation for those shared values. Recognize the strength in unity, applaud the ability to laugh together, and vocalize the security you find in your partner's embrace.
Love is a Verb, Not Just a Valentine
Remember, love is an active verb, not just a static noun to be celebrated once a year. It's in every touch, every shared responsibility, every supportive word, and in the way you face the world together. So here's to love beyond Valentine's Day – to love as a daily journey of shared relationship goals, values, and virtues.
Check out this week’s For Better AND Worth podcast episode to hear more about how we have navigated Valentine’s Day and our own relationship goals.