Balance is an important topic in my roundtables. Many business owners spend years building successful companies only to realize they have neglected the people they profess to love.

Dr. Gary Chapman identifies the challenges people face in their relationships. In his best-selling book The 5 Love Languages. Chapman extols couples to constantly work on their commitment to keep it strong and healthy. When we feel disconnected from the people we care about, life is a lonely place. The 5 Love Languages is a way to strengthen your connection and bring greater joy and harmony into your relationships.

Words of affirmation
Don’t take loved ones for granted. It’s important to communicate our love out loud, compliments, and reminders of how much we care for them.

Quality time
The gift of time and attention matters more than any amount of money. If your mate needs someone to talk to, listen attentively with empathy and without offering solutions.

Receiving gifts
Gifts come in many forms. True gifts are given from a place of genuine affection and admiration. It shows when you put time and effort into creating or picking a gift especially intended for the one you love. Gestures are gifts as well: a smile, a simple hug.

Acts of service
Effective communication is also shown in actions: caring for a household and a relationship takes effort and commitment from both parties. The extra efforts demonstrate our abiding love.

Physical touch
Remember the excitement you felt when you first met? Physical touch releases powerful and wonderful feelings inside of us. Making love is only one expression of physical touch. It’s the little things that really display love in a relationship.

Valentine’s Day reminds us to refresh the ways we show how much we care. It’s more than a box of candy. Do you know the love language of your spouse or partner? How do you incorporate it into your relationship every day?

The road is easier together,

Linda Laitala, President
Raven Group Performance