Everyone experiences love differently, and it’s easy to miss the mark when it comes to showing that you care so I have a question for you, dear reader…
What is your love language? Is it words of affirmation? Physical touch? Receiving gifts? Acts of service? Or quality time?
Not sure? Here is the link to the quiz to find out how you want to be loved:
https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/
Share your findings with your friend, partner, and family so that they can love you in a way you want to be loved. Also, what’s their love language?
Now, back to the V-day… our society seems to prioritise romantic love and the love that we feel about others. For these reasons, we often forget the love that starts with daily choices, truths, and commitment to ourselves. It’s so much easier to recognise love in others and offer it when your well is full. The simple truth is that we cannot give what we do not have.
This year, on Valentine's Day, I am more focused than ever on nurturing the relationship I have with myself.
What does it look like for me today?
💕Quality time with myself (my top love language) - meditating, journaling, yoga practice
💕Physical touch - massage
💕Receiving gifts - mindful indulgence in home-made coconut-lime bliss balls (recipe below) 😋
How are you going to exercise your self-love muscle today and every day? Share some ideas below.
And if you’re currently in a relationship, there is something incredibly romantic about cooking with your partner. Why?
WELL…
When you’re cooking, you’re creating something together. This experience allows you to connect with your partner on an intimate level. It shows how creative the both of you are; it tests your communication skills, delegation skills, resourcefulness, sense of humour and so much more! Also, discovering who the chef is and who is the sous chef can be fun. Of course, to spice it up a bit, your roles can change ;-)
Sharing your love by cooking together not only provides you with delicious results but can also strengthen your relationship. Sometimes, especially if cooking is something new to both of you, your dinner might turn into a bit of a cooking disaster. And if it does, so what? Just laugh it off. Even though it sounds like a cliché-, the result really doesn’t matter! It’s all about joint efforts and spending quality time together. If one of you starts to blame the other and the whole experience ends up in tears, then maybe it’s a sign that you are not a good team. Cooking should be a fun and relaxed endeavour but for this to happen, you need to have a certain degree of compatibility and chemistry. Now turn OFF your mobile phone, computer, TV and any other distractions. Put ON some background music (you can’t go wrong with some classic jazz music), light some candles, dance, engage in conversation and start cooking. Ultimately, the message from this article for you is to tighten the bond with your other half by ditching your fine dining experience and cooking something together at home.
Mark Groves
V-day Carrot muffins
Ingredients:
For the carrot muffins:
1 1/4 cups almond flour
2 tablespoons coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 organic eggs
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup (50 grams) grated carrots
For the cream cheese frosting (optional):
60 grams of cream cheese
4 teaspoons maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
a dash of salt
I made my little muffins without frosting.
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a muffin tin with 8 muffin liners.
In a medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (almond flour through nutmeg). Set this aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla.
Add the dry mix to the wet mix just until combined and then gently fold in the grated carrots.
Divide the batter evenly among the liners and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let the muffins cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Do not frost until completely cool!
For the cream cheese frosting, mix everything together until thoroughly combined.
V-day Lime Coconut Bliss Balls
Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashews
1 cup packed dried figs
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut shreds (plus extra for coating)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp fresh grated lime zest
Directions:
To make the lime zest, use a fine grater to accumulate 1 tsp of zest (the outer peel). Slice the lime in half and squeeze to make 2 tbsp. of juice in a small bowl or container.
Place the cashews in a food processor and mix until broken down into coarse, grainy flour. A few larger pieces left behind are ok.
Add the figs and process until it forms a crumbly but sticky dough.
Add the coconut, lime juice and zest and process until you the mixture sticks together when you press it between your fingers.
Use your hands to roll the mixture into 15 balls.
Coat the balls in coconut shreds
Cooking lessons, going for a picnic and having a walk are my favourite dates, what’re yours? Share your ideas on my Wellness Blog in the comment section.
I WISH YOU ALL HAPPY DATING WITH SELF AND/OR OTHERS!
Hope you enjoyed scrolling my article. I am grateful for you! Thank you for being here, reading my articles, for wowing, and for spreading the message so that the articles can be read by more people.
With love,
Iza
Coaching Psychologist and Relationship Coach
selfgrowthcourses.com thriveinshanghai.com
