What is the formula for giving your partner the BEST gift this holiday season? All you need to know is what their love language is. Never heard of love languages? I tell you all about them here. Don’t know what YOUR love languages are? Take the test here. Once you have that figured out…here is what you do…
Gary Chapman’s, The Five Love Languages is based on the idea that we each have our own ways we express and experience love. He believes unhappiness occurs in relationships when these ways differ than between partners. The different ways one can express love have been divided into five categories, or languages. Imagine you and your partner each spoke a different language, now imagine trying to tell your partner you love them. It might be a little tricky. Some of the message might get through, but the depth of the feelings gets lost. The same thing happens when you speak different love languages.
Below I have written a brief summary of each of the five languages. I have also included tips on what you can do if your partner’s language matches one of them. The idea is to try your best to express your love in ways that mean the most to them. Speak their language! You will get the most bang for your buck.
It is September and Christmas decorations fill the department store shelves. Children far and wide have started their lists for Santa, mainly because parents have been reminding them that “Santa is watching” for the last few months. If the thought of these things make you break out in a sweat, you are not alone. For many Americans the “holiday” season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. In fact, a 2008 poll by the American Psychological Association found that 8 out of 10 Americans anticipate stress during the holidays.
Why are the holidays so stressful? The holidays present a wide array of demands: office parties, purchasing gifts, baking, cleaning, and entertaining. For many, the biggest source of holiday stress is the obligations associated with family and family traditions. Having such high expectations and experiencing guilt at not meeting them, contributes to the stress and pressure of the holidays.
With the holidays right around the corner, here are some ways to cope with stress and have a pleasant holiday season.