to the YourTango newsletter!

Continue to Site »»

ProConnect

3 Tools To Rekindle Romance In Your Relationship

By . Posted on .

3 Tools To Rekindle Romance In Your Relationship [EXPERT]
Is your relationship missing that spark you once had?
Use these three exercises to ignite the flame in your relationship!

For example, my husband and I make salad together in the kitchen and enjoy each other's company in conversation. Both of us share equally in the preparation and conversation. We might enjoy watching television together while chatting about the story and cuddling. Watch out for what is called parallel play.

Parallel play is when two people are in the same room doing the same or different things and emotionally in their own worlds. It looks like sitting on the couch watching television together with no talking, touching or interaction of any kind. Each person is playing in their own way without the others attention, which is not the purpose of this tool."The Dark Knight Rises": Helping Us All To Heal

More from YourTango: Surviving Mother's Day When You've Lost Your Mom

3. Conversion of personal positive feeling for mutual benefit. This tool involves sharing a personal excitement, such as seeing a beautiful sunset, watching a creative fun video or other fun exciting things that caused you to feel good. Then, converting that positive feeling into a statement your partner can hear.

For example, my husband finds joy in seeing small animals like squirrels when we are walking. If he takes the joy he feels and converts it for me into "I love you so much" or "I'm so lucky to be married to you," then we both feel great. My husband took his joy and converted it to my language so I can then "hear" him and "catch" his excitement. This benefits both of us. Why Katie Holmes Secretly Filed For Divorce

If my husband took his excitement about a squirrel sighting, for example, and said to me "check out that squirrel" excitedly, I may be annoyed he wasn't engaged in our conversation and not paying attention to me. The key to this tool is to convert your excitement into something your partner can get excited about too. Then you both win, with a "hit" of dopamine in your brains and romance in your veins. Help! I Want My Spouse Back. 10 Ways To Engage Your Spouse

Biologically our bodies have a pleasure reward center that can be used to our advantage. Couples can rekindle the romance by trying out these three tools. I dare you. If you need help, ask for it. Couples counselors are experts trained to help you get the romance and fun back. Remember, your mental health is influenced by the quality of your relationship. Have fun and enjoy each other. 5 Love Lessons From Olympic Athletes [EXPERT]

More from YourTango: What Dove Teaches Us About Self-Image & Intimacy

Teresa Maples MS LMHC is an author, licensed mental health counselor and life coach from Gig Harbor, Washington. Connect with me for a Journey to Abundant Life.

Article contributed by
Advanced Member

Teresa Maples

Counselor/Therapist

Teresa Maples MS, LMHC, CSAT, CMAT

My passion is to encourage, nurture,and validate people, deepening their most important relationships to Live Life Abundantly!

If you would like to stay current with the latest and greatest relational research and thoughts, sign up for my newsletter. You may also subscribe to my Couples Thrive Blog, and visit my web site Woodland Pathways Counseling 

Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Credentials: CMAT, CSAT, LMHC
Specialties: Couples/Marital Issues, Infidelity / Affair Recovery, Sex Addiction
Other Articles/News by Teresa Maples:

6 Ways Sex Makes You More Attractive

By

Our culture promotes sex everywhere from magazine covers to product advertisements. When sex sells, it sets us up to objectify ourselves and others. When we objectify someone, we really don't see the other person. We lose out on the most intimate loving parts of a relationship and we look to magazines, books and blogs to help us get the relationship ... Read more

Surviving Mother's Day When You've Lost Your Mom

By

Mother's Day is a time to honor and cherish mothers. Whether your relationship with yours is nurturing or strained, all mothers have one thing in common: they love their children. But, what if your mom is no longer around? Maybe she has passed on or refuses to talk with you as an adult. Either way, you're feeling sad and lonely without her. Here are a ... Read more

What Dove Teaches Us About Self-Image & Intimacy

By

Have you seen Dove's campaign video? It's gone viral. After being released earlier this week, it's racked up more than 7 million views. The ad itself is a social experiment in which women describe themselves to a forensic sketch artist. Then, a group of strangers describe the same women to the artist for him to draw another portrait. When ... Read more

See More

Recent Expert Posts
Flirt

Is the Problem Lazybutt Love?

Put your love life on 'autopilot' and eventually, bad weather will send you off course.

Oh My

The 13 year itch in marriage should I stay or should I go?

More couples are getting divorced after the ten year mark in marriage, could you be next...

Gaze

How to Connect with that Special Woman During the First Months

How do you show someone that you feel that you are special and you mean the world to them?

Ask The Experts

Have a dating or relationship question?
Visit Ask YourTango and let our experts and community answer.

Resources
How to find the right pro for you
10 Reasons Mental Health Pros Should Join YourTango Experts

10 Reasons Mental Health Pros Should Join YourTango Experts

YourTango Experts can help your business go from good to great.

10 Steps To Improve Your Coaching Business

Take your coaching business from mediocre to great in no time…

Frequently Asked Questions About YourTango Experts

Thinking of joining? Here's all the facts you need to know to make the most of your membership.

Getting Your Guy To Join You In A Therapy Or Coaching Session

So how can your get your strong, self-reliant, superman to talk to an Expert with you?

Therapist/Counselors: Who We Are & What We Do

What exactly does a therapist/counselor do and can they really help?

See more resources>
HOT STUFF!
FROM OUR PARTNERS