Exploring Your Strengths as a Couple
What's the strongest part of your relationship?
This week, we continue our talk about creating a solid foundation by focusing on our strengths, both individually and as a couple.
We don't often think about something, but focusing on what you are great at together can be an excellent way to create a strong core in your relationship.
WEEK TWO: EXPLORING YOUR STRENGTHS
Typically, we focus on the negatives or weaknesses and how to improve them to strengthen our relationships. Just as important, however, is realizing and taking advantage of your strengths as a couple. During times of turmoil, these strengths can be good to lean on.
Think back to when you were dating. What were you both good at together? Was humor and laughing a big part of your relationship? Were you both excellent communicators? Did you both love adventure?
These shared strengths helped create a strong bond early in your relationship and should continue to do so. These things can help you relate to each other more in times of need and bring you closer together when you need it most.
It's also essential to identify your shared values. Is faith a big part of your relationship? What about giving back or continually looking for things to expand your mind? Shared values can also help build a stronger bond while giving you opportunities to grow both individually and as a couple.
When you are looking for things to do that will help strengthen your relationship, don't forget to invest in those strengths or shared values.
If you need to improve your communication skills, then definitely invest in that. But if one of your biggest strengths is your humor, then find ways to get even better at making each other laugh. Or, if trust is one of the most substantial parts of your relationship, find things to do that will build that trust even further.
Let's look at an example. Let's say both John and Jane identify humor as a strength. In tough times, they both rely on this to cheer each other up or use laughter as a way to support one another.
It can be easy for them to say, "you know…we love to make each other laugh, and we don't need to strengthen that side of us because we are already pretty good". Because of that thought process, they don't spend much time finding new ways to make each other laugh.
But what if they both did? What if they took improv classes or took time every week to learn new jokes to tell each other? What if they made comedy shows a part of their date night traditions?
Well, we already know that making each other laugh is a strength of theirs. So we know that those types of activities mentioned above would be attractive to both of them. They would be investing in things they love and that time spent together would help them create a stronger bond. In addition, they would be getting even better at something they are already good at. They would go from being good at making each other laugh to being great at doing so. That strength would be an even stronger part of their relationship.
So, our question is simple. What are your biggest strengths as a couple, and how can you make them even stronger?
If you are good communicators, how can you be GREAT communicators?
If faith is a strong part of your relationship, how can you make it the STRONGEST part of your relationship?
With this week's Monday Motivations, we will challenge you to answer these kinds of questions. By the end of the week, you will have a list of the five strongest parts of your relationship and what you can do to make them even stronger!
MONDAY MOTIVATIONS
Our Top Five Strengths
Every night this week, we want you to identify one strength in your relationship. Talk about why it is a strength and how it has played an important role in your relationship. Then, make a list of 5 or 6 activities you can do to make them stronger. Make sure the activities you list are realistic and that you can plan on doing in the near future.
At the end of the week, take a look at that list. Choose one that you think is the strongest, and over the next month, find a way to do some of the things on your list.
Date Night Ideas
Who is ready to build some strengths?
This week's date night activities are all about your strengths as a couple! It's always important to recognize the strong parts of your relationship, and we will give you some ideas on how you can!
Premium member? Click below to see this week's set of date night challenges!