Okay so no new revelations here, right? Most people would tell you that you have to nourish your relationship if you want it to grow. What few people know, however, is how the heck to do that. So here’s a list of ten ways to nourish your relationships in five minutes or less.
1. Give your partner a ten-second, full-body hug daily.
2. Give your partner a five-second, gentle, kiss on the lips.
3. Do a random, kind act (i.e., a note that says, “I love you,” bring home his/her favorite dessert, etc.).
4. Make it a habit of giving your partner a compliment every day.
5. Tell your partner two things you admire and/or like about him/her.
6. Take note of your partner’s efforts and say thank you.
7. Say you’re sorry from a genuine place when you make a mistake.
8. Hold your partner’s hand while sitting on the couch together.
9. Surprise your partner by helping out with something you don’t usually help with (i.e., cooking, cleaning, the garbage, recycles, etc.). Do this before they ask for your help.
10. Take a relaxing walk while holding hands.
Nourishing our relationships often takes only a moment. Fortunately, the impact of that moment goes on for much longer. Stop thinking you have to do some major, jaw-stopping feat in order to get your relationship back on track, and just start with the little things–start with watering it.
Challenge: Choose two items on the list to do each day for the next fourteen days and see if your love begins to grow and your relationship begins to heal. I’m betting more than half of the relationships will notice a difference. Put me to the test and let’s see.