Exploring Healthy Relationship Dynamics: Inspiration in Positive Relationship Portrayals
How does media shape the way we view marriage empowerment?
Good morning, Icons,
We are here with a new month and new week!
Happy October, I hope that all your goals are met for the first three quarters of the year.
Our final quarter of 2023 is here. We pray that you finish out strong in life, llove, marriage and family.
Be inspired! With so much going on around us, be grateful and thankful for all that you have accomplished thus far.
And thank you for continuing to show up with us.
Exploring Healthy Relationship Dynamics: Inspiration in Positive Relationship Portrayals
It seems whenever you go on social media or see the news a new couple is getting a divorced.
We have television shows about couples that are fighting, sitcoms with stupid dads or talk shows with people fighting and cheating.
Relationships discussions have grown exponentially over the years in the podcast space and hasn’t been good.
We had Kevin Samuels with others like Hannah Pearl Davis, Derrick Jax’n and even Steve Harvey do work influencing others about relationships.
Media has become a powerful tool in the marriage space and not always a good one.
Iconic Media is not just for marriage resources, but it is also a media company working to be the counterculture in a swath of media that depicts marriage only really one way, problematic.
We show long term celebrity couples, we do interviews with other marriage coaches and influencers plus we talk about our own marriages or those of our elders that have lasted decades.
Here is my story here:
Dysfunction that isn’t the only truth.
Marriage is a life hack when done right with the right person. And people need to see that.
We know that faith is the evidence of things hoped for.
We need that hope.
It is the “Not seen” part that is hurting us with many who didn’t grow up looking at healthy marriages or may not come from a together home.
In the past, people seen couples on tv or wholesome families. Then there was a shift once feminism and other political movements grew.
Families changed and how we showed them changed as well.
Now who will pick up the mantle to push more wholesome families and more successful relationships?
Sometimes people might also think what their parents did was a fluke and dating today is impossible to lead to a good marriage.
It is all dashing and we are here to reverse that.
Media Influence
The media is a powerful tool to get people to think, act and believe what the media wants them too.
It controls voting habits, buying behavior and even trending relationship topics.
The latest research suggests that the news can shape us in surprising ways – from our perception of risk to the content of our dreams, to our chances of having a heart attack. How the news changes the way we think and behave - BBC Future
So, what does it tells us about relationship?
In the Digital Age, there are some very interesting research from Pew, a research organization that conducts research on an array of topics.
Some Examples are:
We are going to dive deeper into the effects of media on relationships including social movements, social media’s power and how positive images are need now more than ever to counter a lot of the misinformation we see.
We must be that counterculture if we want to inspire our fellow citizens to build social empires that can impact our communities and nation.
Images are affecting how people see themselves from beauty standards, their actual worth and more.
We at Iconic are working hard to combat that and are here encouraging you today.
Healthy Relationship Dynamics
What should people see in healthy relationships especially in the media to encourage us to continue in life, love, marriage and family?
According to marriage.com,” the Prepare/Enrich couple program has a scale to measure if a couple is healthy.
Assertiveness: This area of relationship dynamics evaluates whether each partner is able to communicate his or her needs and wants honestly while remaining respectful.
Self-Confidence: This quality addresses the extent to which a person feels positively about themselves and maintains a sense of control of their life.
Avoidance: A partner who scores high on this facet of relationship dynamics will tend to minimize disagreements and refuse to confront or directly address conflict in the relationship.
Partner Dominance: In couple dynamics, partner dominance describes whether or not one partner seems to control the relationship.” Relationship Dynamics: Meaning and Their Types (marriage.com)
This should be reflected in our media images as a way to determine if a relationship is working in a balanced way.
Too often, the media we see is unbalanced with archaic sexist gender roles, with dehumanizing language for both men and women, or even some toxic individuals boosted that hurt people.
How do we know if the images we see are inspiring healthy dynamics?
This images or the medium we consume should show:
Healthy relationship dynamics:
Mutual respect and trust between partners
Communication is open, honest, and respectful
Both partners feel heard and validated
Both partners feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions
Each partner supports and encourages the other’s growth and individuality
Now, we know that entertainment is designed to keep us interested. But there must be a balance between unrealistic rom-coms vs drams filled shows where couples fight and beat each other.
Today, people are so focus on trending, being influencers or gaining clout, the drama aspect gets more status.
Where do people go to get actual help for their marriages?
Final Points
Firstly, Iconic Media is here to inspire you. We will continue to offer tips and tools, eBooks, eCourse and more to empower you.
Secondly, look for wholesome content like other coaching programs, counseling, therapy, movies that inspire you without dehumanizing you.
Lastly, being discerning. Not everyone in the relationship space cares about you or cares about getting the Western culture back to a healthy family space. Be sure that the books, shows, social media sites and more are places that are safe for you and encourage you to be better.
You can always turn to scripture to be encouraged in Christ Jesus to go through any and everything. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, a Book of Wisdom, has lots of advice for both men and women.
The media can be a tool or a problem depending on what you choose to consume. Be vigilante about your social empire by choosing media that serves you and your family.
And remember, in everything you do, Be Iconic.
1-Year Anniversary Celebration: Iconic Marriage Holiday Package and Giveaway
October 1, 2022 we launched Iconic Media with the Vision to empower men and women to build social empires.
And with 170 newsletters, 5 books, 1 eCourse and podcasts shows, we are doing just that.
We have 1 quarter left of 2023 we want to celebrate with gifts.
Call-to Action
We ask you to come be a blessing to our work and give today.
All proceeds will go to giving away 200 eBooks to Icons online.
Our goal is to raise $3000.
All donors get a reward based on the amount you give.
These are our Iconic Marriage Holiday Packages: Choose your package here.
Give $15 get 1 eBook
Give $30 Get 3 eBooks or 1 print book
Give $50 Get 5 eBooks or 2 print books
Give $100 get eCourse
Give $125 get print book collection
give $150 Get entire collection
Choose your package here and help us continue to build. We can’t do this without you.