Creating a happy relationship doesn’t just happen by accident. It comes from being intentional and handwork. Below is a quick outline of some of the steps it takes to create a happy relationship.
- Creating a shared vision– think of this as your relationship mission statement. What is the purpose of your relationship and the two of you being together? Your relationship is benefiting or is suppose to be benefiting you both in some way otherwise what is the point of being together. An example of a shared vision might be to make each other feel loved and appreciated throughout life.
- Be Intentional– once you have your vision you must choose to live it and act it each and everyday. Yes, you will mess this up sometimes and so will your partner, so in those moments you get a second chance to intentionally live your shared vision.
- Spend Time Together– in order to keep a happy relationship you have to participant in it by spending time together. Date nights are great, but they aren’t the only way to spend time together. Sending a thinking of you text during the day, such as “how are you?” or “this reminded me of you…” is a quick and easy way to stay connected. Another way to spend time together, is by having a night time ritual together- whether it’s dinner or sitting in talking before going to bed.
- Saying Thank You– I don’t think you can say thank you enough to anyone! Showing appreciation is great for your relationship and for your own outlook. Challenge yourself to seek out ways to be grateful and appreciative in your relationship.
- Saying “I’m Sorry”– An “I’m sorry” can go a long ways in any relationship. For most of us, this is hard to say so start with the small stuff, so that when you really need to say it you can.
What steps do you take in your own relationship to keep it happy?
Summer is officially here and that means that there a plenty of fun free activities to do. Here are some ideas in Federal Way, but you could find similar activities in the city nearest you. The best place to start looking is your city’s recreation page.
Federal Way’s Town Square Park
The Town Square Park opened this month. The park includes a playground, two basketball courts, a large chessboard, and a picnic area. For more information you can read about it here. If you have kids pack a picnic and head to the park. You can bring some balls or frisbees to throw around, create a scavenger hunt for them, or play tag, in addition to the toys already at the park! Parks aren’t just a great spot for kids. Adults can also enjoy picnics with friends and family or playing on the courts.
Movies in the Park
I love outdoor movies in the summer! This summer, the city will be playing two movies at the new Town Square Park (one is Inside Out which I absolutely recommend). This could be a great cheap family night or date night. You can find the schedule here.
Concerts in the Park
Another great free summer date night is concerts in the park. Here is the schedule of the upcoming concerts in Federal Way.
Hiking
Hikes are are great way to get outdoors without breaking the bank. Here is a list of some hikes close to Federal Way. It’s nice to get out of cell phone range, so you can take a break from the rest of the world and just explore. If you have a little one, a carrier can be a great way to hike with a baby. My husband and I recently went on a hike with our little one and he loved it!
I hope that these ideas help inspire you to start planning some summer activities. Know of a great summer activity or have a favorite spot? Please comment and share.
FREE CLASS
Live Your Best Life:
Learn to Love Yourself
Presented by Jessica Scales, MA, LMFT
Thursday, May 26th
Marlene’s Market & Deli in Federal Way
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
The most important relationship you have in the world is with yourself. All of your other relationships are built from this foundation and allow you to live your best life. When we don’t have a good relationship with ourselves we might feel worthless, a lack of confidence, and self-doubt. Learn about the common negative messages we tell ourselves and how to overcome them, so that you can live your best life.
I have been a podcast listener for many years now and I have found that podcasts can be a great source of inspiration and motivation. It seems like there is a podcast out there for almost every topic from comedy to crime dramas, from What You Missed in History Class to Stuff Mom Never Told You, from productivity tips to inspiring life stories.
Here are a few podcasts to inspire and uplift you:
In these 30 minute episodes, Gretchen (or Gret as I like to call her) and her sister Elizabeth share tips on creating habits that will make you happier. In order to help you understand yourself better, she has identified what she calls the four tendencies (click to take the quiz and find out which one you are) and how your tendency impacts your habits and happiness.
This podcast was introduced to me by someone and I think it is a great source of inspiring stories and real heart to heart talk that will give you some things to think about as you go about your day, like this episode on limiting beliefs.
Jess Lively talks about living intentionally based on your values. If you know me, you have probably heard me go on a rant about how important it is to know what your values are and then to live intentionally based on those values. Jess talks about a wide range of topics from fashion to consciously uncoupling on her podcast.
Susan Cain has a book by the same name that speaks about the power of introverts. I think this is a must read and listen to for anyone who considers themselves an introvert or loves an introvert. We live in a society that favors extroverted ways and Susan Cain will help you appreciate the power that comes from being an introvert. I first learned of her through a TED talk she did about this topic.
I hope that this has inspired you to search on iTunes to find podcasts that will help you live your best life. If you have any favorites, please comment below. I am always looking for new podcasts to listen to and recommend.