Love

What Kind of Love do You Need to Cultivate?

Whether it’s for yourself or another, taking the time to let love grow can improve all areas of your life, especially your relationships. The relationships you have with yourself, friends, and family are extremely high priorities for most of us. What is often get overlooked in the chaos that is life. Planning explicit time for yourself, your significant other, and your friends can reignite a spark of love that reduces stress and improves overall mood. So why not make an event out of it! 

First, you need to decide what type of love you want to cultivate on your retreat from normalcy. Are you focusing on the relationship you have with yourself or with others? Who you are spending time with is just as important as what you do with that person. This is even more true when that relationship is the reason for taking time away.

Self-Love 
For those seeking to reconnect with your self-love, go above and beyond relaxing in the tub or meditating at home. Take advantage of singles pricing at a wellness resort or spa for a few days to really take your personal escape to the next level. While traveling alone can be daunting, there is no need to travel too far from your comfort zone. A rejuvenating retreat is closer than you think. The perfect place to spend time building and cherishing your relationship with yourself could be only a short drive away. The benefits from simply taking a few steps away from life and a few steps closer to yourself will be noticeable before you even return.

Romantic Love
When planning to focus on your relationship with your partner, the retreat needs to speak to both parties as a unit. Yes – I’m talking about finding middle ground! Not sure where this is with your significant other? Consider going somewhere unfamiliar and try something new. 

Afterward, step back and reflect on this new experience with your partner without doing anything else. Not eating at a restaurant, not while hiking, not during a spa treatment. Just alone, without distractions, wherever you are comfortable together. Sounds a little silly but slowing down together can help you connect more fully and rediscover the depth of your love. Even the smallest experiences keep relationships feeling alive – and day to day life a little fresher. 

Friendship Love
Similarly, a friend’s retreat can also require a lot of middle ground. Once again, though, I challenge you to try something new together. While your group of friends may have a “thing” you do, a shared new experience can be a bonding one. Maybe you normally like to spend time active in nature together by hiking, skiing, or biking. Why not use the support of each other to step outside the comfort zone by trying something like a spa retreat with guided meditation and yoga? Or vice versa?

Having your safety net of friends can help a new activity feel less scary – and make laughing at your inevitable mistakes much easier! Don’t forget to plan some time simply enjoying the company as well. Try leaving your phones behind as you go to dinner or on a walk. The decreased distractions will let the love in your friendships – and all of the unique personalities – shine. 

So…

This spring, let love take the lead. Make an effort to take time to appreciate the love that surrounds you and let it fill you. Whether it is taking off for a weekend alone or hopping state lines with your loved ones, it’s important to carve out special time for your relationships with others and yourself. You’ll notice the positive impact it makes in all aspects of life – from dealing with stress at work to coping with the constantly changing world around you.