Dear One!,
There are fewer opportunities to be disappointed by our expectations more than the traditional Official Day of Love (seconded closely by New Years Eve?).
My antidote is to make EVERY day Valentine’s Day (sort of like making every day Earth Day) only without any of those tricky expectations.
If you are trying to find a way to Enhance Your Romance, Try this instead:
How to Double Your Romance with One-Way Dates
Over time, couples can easily develop routines that become ruts and it seems like romance goes out the window.
Does this sound familiar?
Partner #1: “What do you want to do?”
Partner #2: “I don’t know, what do YOU want to do?”
Then they end up doing pretty much the same thing they have done before.
Couples can also fall into “compromise ruts” where each gives up what they really want to do in order to find something they can both agree upon. For example, in choosing movies, he might love action-adventure, she might love drama, and they might routinely compromise on comedies. After awhile, this might get old! (Happens a LOT)
What’s the alternative? How can couples keep their romance fresh and exciting?
Try rotating the following four ONE-WAY DATES:
TYPE 1: Partner #1 creates a romantic experience for partner #2
The purpose of this date is to give a gift and please partner #2 one hundred percent. This doesn’t have to cost anything, and doesn’t even require going anywhere, as long as the time and activities are creatively focused on what would please partner #2.
TYPE 2: Switch; partner #2 creates a romantic experience for partner #1
TYPE 3: Partner #1 creates a self-centered romantic experience
The purpose of this date is for partner #1 to please themselves 100%, to have romance exactly the way they want, sharing the experience with partner #2 in the way they wish, but not worrying about partner #2′s experience at all.
TYPE 4: Switch; partner #2 creates a self-centered romantic experience
To work, this requires planning and coordination. I suggest couples plan their dates and one-way types on a calendar a year in advance. This may sacrifice the spontaneity that some prefer but often can’t sustain, for intentionality that can continue to create romantic closeness and excitement for decades to come.
I have found that trying to reach agreement on everything can hinder creativity and dilute the possibilities. Using these One-Way Dates allows for each partner to freely and creatively choose activities that would truly please themselves or their partner, without eliminating exciting choices trying to please both.
ONE-WAY DECISION MAKING
As much as we value mutuality and agreement, wouldn’t it be nice to get your way sometimes, even when your partner disagrees?
Similar to the “One Way Date” is the GIMME.
A “Gimme” is a request one partner makes of another, when there is something they would really like to have or do that the partner disagrees with.
Let’s say that partner #1 really wants to go to the opera, but partner #2 hates the opera. Partner #1 really wants to go, but doesn’t want to go alone or with someone else, they want to go with their partner!
Partner #1 could ask for a “gimme” which means “please do this as a gift for me, not because you agree or want to, but give this to me because you love me and want me to be happy.”
Ground rules:
- A gimme is not asked for lightly or often
- When asked for a gimme, try your best to say “Yes”
- When delivering a gimme, do so with a positive attitude
- The gimme is a gift, delivered with unconditional love, without expectation of a quid pro quo
Sometimes in a relationship, ONE way is the BEST way!
________________________________________
© Relationship Coaching Institute | All rights reserved | Used with permission
Try it out and let me know how it works for you and your mate. I am collecting ideas for a list of suggestions for a future blog.
Make it FUN,
Nina
P.S. If you are ready to take your relationship to the next level, consider a complimentary Relationship Rescue Coaching Session to see what coaching with me could do for you. Use the website contact page at http://PlayInYourMarrige.com/contact/html
Or email to nina(at)ninapottercoach.com OR call me at 651-214-6803.
Nina Potter
Relationship Coach
http://PlayInYourMarriage.com
651-214-6803
nina(at)ninapottercoach.com
There are fewer opportunities to be disappointed by our expectations more than the traditional Official Day of Love (seconded closely by New Years Eve?).
My antidote is to make EVERY day Valentine’s Day (sort of like making every day Earth Day) only without any of those tricky expectations.
If you are trying to find a way to Enhance Your Romance, Try this instead:
How to Double Your Romance with One-Way Dates
Over time, couples can easily develop routines that become ruts and it seems like romance goes out the window.
Does this sound familiar?
Partner #1: “What do you want to do?”
Partner #2: “I don’t know, what do YOU want to do?”
Then they end up doing pretty much the same thing they have done before.
Couples can also fall into “compromise ruts” where each gives up what they really want to do in order to find something they can both agree upon. For example, in choosing movies, he might love action-adventure, she might love drama, and they might routinely compromise on comedies. After awhile, this might get old! (Happens a LOT)
What’s the alternative? How can couples keep their romance fresh and exciting?
Try rotating the following four ONE-WAY DATES:
TYPE 1: Partner #1 creates a romantic experience for partner #2
The purpose of this date is to give a gift and please partner #2 one hundred percent. This doesn’t have to cost anything, and doesn’t even require going anywhere, as long as the time and activities are creatively focused on what would please partner #2.
TYPE 2: Switch; partner #2 creates a romantic experience for partner #1
TYPE 3: Partner #1 creates a self-centered romantic experience
The purpose of this date is for partner #1 to please themselves 100%, to have romance exactly the way they want, sharing the experience with partner #2 in the way they wish, but not worrying about partner #2′s experience at all.
TYPE 4: Switch; partner #2 creates a self-centered romantic experience
To work, this requires planning and coordination. I suggest couples plan their dates and one-way types on a calendar a year in advance. This may sacrifice the spontaneity that some prefer but often can’t sustain, for intentionality that can continue to create romantic closeness and excitement for decades to come.
I have found that trying to reach agreement on everything can hinder creativity and dilute the possibilities. Using these One-Way Dates allows for each partner to freely and creatively choose activities that would truly please themselves or their partner, without eliminating exciting choices trying to please both.
ONE-WAY DECISION MAKING
As much as we value mutuality and agreement, wouldn’t it be nice to get your way sometimes, even when your partner disagrees?
Similar to the “One Way Date” is the GIMME.
A “Gimme” is a request one partner makes of another, when there is something they would really like to have or do that the partner disagrees with.
Let’s say that partner #1 really wants to go to the opera, but partner #2 hates the opera. Partner #1 really wants to go, but doesn’t want to go alone or with someone else, they want to go with their partner!
Partner #1 could ask for a “gimme” which means “please do this as a gift for me, not because you agree or want to, but give this to me because you love me and want me to be happy.”
Ground rules:
- A gimme is not asked for lightly or often
- When asked for a gimme, try your best to say “Yes”
- When delivering a gimme, do so with a positive attitude
- The gimme is a gift, delivered with unconditional love, without expectation of a quid pro quo
Sometimes in a relationship, ONE way is the BEST way!
________________________________________
© Relationship Coaching Institute | All rights reserved | Used with permission
Try it out and let me know how it works for you and your mate. I am collecting ideas for a list of suggestions for a future blog.
Make it FUN,
Nina
P.S. If you are ready to take your relationship to the next level, consider a complimentary Relationship Rescue Coaching Session to see what coaching with me could do for you. Use the website contact page at http://PlayInYourMarrige.com/contact/html
Or email to nina(at)ninapottercoach.com OR call me at 651-214-6803.
Nina Potter
Relationship Coach
http://PlayInYourMarriage.com
651-214-6803
nina(at)ninapottercoach.com
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