Prioritize Joy in Your Relationship

 From Gottman

Do you prioritize joy in your relationship?

Building a life together takes effort, and this includes playing. According to Dr. John Gottman, sharing moments of joy and humor with your partner is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your relationship.

So how can you increase and maintain laughter, playfulness, and joy in your relationship?

1. Ask your partner open-ended questions to understand what adventure or playfulness means to them. Remember! Listen to understand, not to respond.

How do you think we could have more fun together?

What are you most excited about or looking forward to right now?

What one-day adventure could you imagine us having together?

2. Build Rituals of Connection with your partner. 

Rituals of connection are the behaviors and practices you create that reinforce your love. They are ways to connect with your partner that you design together, plan for, and commit to on a regular basis. 

These rituals can be big, like how to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, or they can be small like how to eat dinner together or wind down before bedtime. 

Building rituals of connection will help you find joy in your relationship and prepares you to move through life together in a fulfilling and meaningful way.