Nurturing involves seeking to meet each other’s emotional needs for affection, encouragement, support, comfort, etc,
• we all have a longing to be loved and to be known by another
• empty space inside that needs to be filled up with love
• when empty, we feel alone or lonely giving each other emotional support refills the empty space inside
• we are made for close relationships
How to nurture
Be proactive rather than reactive:
• being reactive means focusing on each others shortcomings
• being proactive means focusing on each other’s needs
• proactive behavior draws couples together because each one feels loved; when we feel loved, we feel like loving
Study each other:
• recognize each other’s needs
• often our partner’s needs and desires will be different to our own
• discover what matters to your husband or wife. otherwise we tend to give what we like to receive.
• needs change over time
• make requests, not demands
• we can't assume our husband or wife automatically knows our desires. We must tell each other.
Question:Complete the worksheet under "Extras -> Study Guide"
make your husband or wife feel like the most important person in the world to you
focus on what you like and admire about your partner
express gratitude for what your partner does
show appreciation for who your partner is
make it a daily discipline
Write down six things you appreciate about your husband or wife. (Be specific: it may be thanking them for what they do, or it may be expressing your appreciation for who they are-try to make it a mixture looking particularly for things you may have come to take for granted)
When you have both finished, show each other what you have put.
You may wish to use the worksheet below for this question:
