Valentine’s Day Tidbits

February 13, 2014

Do you often find yourself saying the wrong things when talking to your sweetheart? You’re not alone. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, CxC wants to provide you with some tips on communicating with your sweetheart.

We’ve compiled a list of tips that you should follow every day, but especially on Valentine’s Day.

  • Be honest. Thomas Jefferson once said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” In other words, honesty is the first step to forming a healthy relationship. Once you are dishonest, through your verbal or nonverbal communication or by your actions, it is hard to regain your sweetheart’s trust.
  • Learn to compromise. Naturally, we want things to go our way—and our way only. Unfortunately, in a relationship, that’s not how things work. You need a balance and a little give and take from both parties. When in a situation like this, it is best to choose your battles.  
  • Be open. Although it may seem hard to be open, it is necessary for successful relationships. Sharing your feelings can not only allow for deeper connections with your sweetheart, it can also be quite cathartic for you. If opening up seems daunting, take baby steps.     
  • Clarify your wants and needs. If you haven’t figured it out by now, humans do not make the best mind readers. You cannot expect your sweetheart to always know what you want—you must tell them.  This goes hand-in-hand with being open. If you can’t make your wants and needs clear, how do you expect the other person to understand? Think about taking a love language quiz to analyze how you love and how you like to be loved.
  • Give your undivided attention. In order to listen, you have to be able to hear. When you are with your sweetheart, try to free yourself all distractions, including social media and other electronics. By giving your undivided attention with your ears and your eyes, your sweetheart knows how much you care.

We hope these tips will help you communicate better with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day and every day.

For a little added entertainment, check out these cool TED talks about love:

How I Hacked Online Dating
The Brain in Love
Love Letters to Strangers

 

LSU