October 23, 2023 | Read Online

Hey Reader,

Welcome back to Living Better—your playbook for a life well-lived.

Can you pinpoint what makes certain interactions in your life feel deeply connected?

Is there a strained relationship you could transform with deeper understanding?

Today, we're diving deep into Love Languages. It’s a concept usually reserved for romance, but can be a game-changer for every relationship in your life.

Today's Sneak Peek...

Long-Form Reads: Loving Wrong, Informed Friendship, Affirmations, 6 Marriage Do’s, Physical Touch, Inviting Love
Theory: The 5 Love Languages.
Quote: Emotional Needs.
Actionable Steps: Applying Love Languages.
Strategies: How To Master Relationships.

Long-Form Reads

MEET CAITLIN, the woman who learned the transformative power of learning love languages 10 years into marriage.

“Loving someone the way you want to be loved doesn’t always work. Because everyone sees and views love differently…”

READ CAITLIN'S STORY

MEET WHITNEY, the woman sharing the blessing of friendships informed by love languages.

“Right now, more than ever, I’m thankful for friends who don’t have unrealistic expectations of me…”

READ WHITNEY'S STORY

MEET TANIKA, the mom showing how words of affirmation can transform much more than romantic relationships.

“Many kids in my generation were coached to be seen, not heard; to assimilate and not make waves. Not my Jade…”

READ TANIKA'S STORY

MEET SIA, the divorcee sharing the 6 mistakes that caused her marriage to lose its spark.

“Marriages are not perfect, but if you are both willing to put in the effort, I truly believe it can be worth saving…”

READ SIA'S STORY

MEET TRACEY, the woman whose marriage thrived after learning her husband’s love language: physical touch.

“A marriage will always feel like a hard, uphill battle when the wrong work is present. You must clear room for HEART work to be done…”

READ TRACEY'S STORY

MEET KATE, the journalist with 7 powerful tips for inviting love into your life.

“While everyone has different goals for what they want in life, one constant desire remains: finding love…”

READ KATE' STORY

The Five Love Languages

Each individual has a primary way they give and receive love, falling into one of five categories:

Words of Affirmation: Verbal expressions of love and affirmation are crucial.
Acts of Service: Actions, like cooking a meal, speak louder than words.
Receiving Gifts: Even small, thoughtful gifts can have a significant impact.
Quality Time: Undivided attention and meaningful conversations are key.
Physical Touch: Physical affection like hugs and kisses are paramount.

➣ Go Deeper: What Are The 5 Love Languages?

Quote

“People tend to criticize their spouse most loudly in the area where they themselves have the deepest emotional need.”

- Dr. Gary Chapman

Applying Love Languages To Real Life

Friendships: Align your communication with your friend's primary love language to deepen the bond.

➣ Go Deeper: How Love Languages Strengthened My Friendship

Family Dynamics: Tailoring your communication can lead to more harmonious family dynamics. Active listening can help de-escalate conflicts and lead to more constructive conversations.

➣ Go Deeper: Love Languages & Parent-Child Relationships

Work Relationships: Understanding your colleagues' love languages can improve team cohesion. Studies indicate that active listening can lead to better emotional well-being and lower levels of stress.

➣ Go Deeper: What Is Your Workplace Love Language?

POLL: What is YOUR love language?

1. Words of affirmation
2. Acts of service
3. Receiving gifts
4. Quality time
5. Physical touch

A Guide To Relationship Mastery

The key to relationship success is a deep understanding of your own predispositions and a genuine intention to develop and improve your interactions with others.

Understand Attachment Styles: Recognize your attachment style—secure, anxious, or avoidant. Secure attachment is the gold standard, promoting positive interactions. Take online quizzes or consult experts to identify your style and work towards secure attachment.
Set Realistic Standards: Know your expectations in any relationship, whether it's with family or colleagues. Aim for high but achievable standards. Use self-reflection and open dialogue to ensure your expectations are grounded in reality.
Be Goal-Oriented: Align your personal goals with those of your friends, family, or colleagues. Shared objectives not only foster collaboration but also deepen emotional bonds. Use tools like shared to-do lists or goal-setting apps to keep everyone on the same page.
Practice Emotional Disclosure: Open up about your feelings, especially in stressful situations. This not only builds trust but also fosters emotional intimacy. Start with small disclosures and gauge the other person's reaction before sharing more.
Adapt & Evolve: Be flexible in your expectations and strategies. Relationships are dynamic; what worked yesterday may not work today. Be willing to adapt based on the relationship's context and the other person's evolving needs.
Implement Active Listening: Incorporate active listening into all your interactions. This skill can de-escalate conflicts and lead to more constructive conversations, enhancing emotional well-being and reducing stress.

➣ Go Deeper: The Psychology Of Close Relationships

POLL: Were you familiar with all 5 love languages before this newsletter?

1. Yes
2. No

Community Spotlight

As a thank you for being part of the Living Better community, we’ll be featuring stories to brighten your week, from subscribers just like YOU!

Today, we’re highlighting our subscriber Angie’s beautiful submission:

“We did our usual trip around the store and through the checkout when he realized his toy was missing. This was not only a toy, but a 1970s Star Wars Stormtrooper. We retraced all our footsteps and never could locate it.

So, every time we go to Cub Foods, Charlie has to stop at the Guest Service counter to see if they found his Stormtrooper. This has gone on for three years now.

A couple weeks ago, the guest service person, Diego, who we have seen on multiple occasions, told me in passing that he and a colleague decided to buy the Stormtrooper off the internet and surprise Charlie.

Today, when we went to the Guest Service counter, Diego, 'found' the 1970s Stormtrooper and gave it to Charlie! Charlie’s face lit up in disbelief that he finally found it.

Cub Foods, you have incredible people working for you! Diego, your kindness has brought me to tears of joy. I am so grateful for your gift to my son!"