Knowing What I Want From My Relationship
Intentional Dating: The Shift Toward Purposeful Connections in 2025 | Iconic Strategies for Finding Meaning and Love
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Welcome to our first full week of the new year. We hope you are warm and doing well, in life, love, marriage and family. Thank God we all made it to a new year.
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January Fundraising Goal: $4,200
Dear Icons,
As we kick off the new year, we are excited to announce our January fundraising goal of $4,200, which is part of our larger effort to raise $50,000 in 2025. This month, your contributions will be directed towards some critical areas that will help us achieve our mission of empowering marriages and building strong families across America.
Allocation of Funds:
$1,200 towards our CCM (Conscious Conservative Movement Ministry and Leadership Academy) training by
Coach Felecia Killings
, which is essential for expanding our reach and impact towards federal contracts. My next meeting is this month.
Medical Bills: Supporting ongoing medical expenses as I continue my battle with Crohn's disease like doctors’ appointments, testing and medications.
Free Books to Libraries in Middle Georgia: Providing valuable resources to mothers in our community, helping them build strong and healthy families.
Rewards for Your Support: As a token of our appreciation, we are offering exclusive rewards for our contributors:
A copy of our newly released book, "Mrs. Pinky Cooks": This cookbook shares my culinary journey, from growing up cooking with my mother and grandmother, to feeding my family of 8, and my fellow soldiers in the U.S. Army. It also addresses the challenges of cooking with Crohn's disease, prediabetes, and allergies.
Your support is crucial to our success. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant difference. Together, we can make January a month of progress and positivity as we work towards our 2025 goals.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Let's make 2025 a year of growth, resilience, and love for families across America.
Setting Relationship Goals: Defining What You Want from a Relationship
I made many mistakes when I was dating. I chose men who showed interest without any understanding of the responsibilities involved. I did not know what I wanted, and I did not know how to set boundaries or communicate my feelings honestly. I was sheltered, having no boyfriends in high school and being career minded, I never considered what a good partner for me would look like. I left it up to men to choose me, my "yes and no's" were indecisive when it came to things I felt ambivalent about.
Ah, the immaturity of my youth.
Now I am with a man who aligns with my values goals, who is a leader, and, best of all, my friend. I could have saved years of heartache and pain in my past relationships, and probably time, if I had taken at least two seconds to figure what I was really doing and was truly ready for. That was unfair to both them and me.
But we are going to help you do better. We want you to be iconic.
Setting relationship goals is a powerful way to ensure that both partners are on the same page and working towards a shared vision of their future together. Whether you're just starting out or have been together for years, defining what you want from your partnership can strengthen your bond and help you navigate the complexities of life as a couple.
Why Set Relationship Goals?
Relationship goals provide a roadmap for your relationship, helping you stay focused on what's important and making it easier to overcome challenges together. They can also foster deeper emotional intimacy, improve communication, and create a sense of purpose and direction in your relationship.
How to Set Relationship Goals
Reflect on Your Values: Start by identifying your core values and what you want to prioritize in your relationship. This could include trust, honesty, communication, or mutual respect.
Communicate Openly: Have an honest conversation with your partner about your goals and aspirations. Make sure both of you feel heard and understood.
Be Specific: Clearly define your goals. Instead of saying "we want to improve communication," specify what that looks like, such as "we will have a weekly check-in to discuss our feelings and concerns."
Set Measurable Goals: Make sure your goals are measurable so you can track your progress. For example, "we will go on a date night once a week" is more measurable than "we will spend more quality time together."
Be Realistic: Set goals that are achievable and realistic given your current circumstances. It's important to be ambitious but also practical.
Create a Timeline: Establish a timeline for achieving your goals. This helps keep you accountable and provides a sense of urgency.
Revisit and Adjust: Regularly revisit your goals and adjust them as needed. Relationships evolve, and your goals should too.
Examples of Relationship Goals
Weekly Date Nights: Commit to spending quality time together at least once a week.
Open Communication: Schedule regular check-ins to discuss your feelings, concerns, and plans for the future.
Financial Planning: Work together to create a budget and set financial goals for the future.
Personal Growth: Support each other's personal development by encouraging hobbies, education, or career goals.
Conflict Resolution: Develop strategies for resolving conflicts in a healthy and constructive manner.
Physical Intimacy: Make an effort to maintain physical closeness through affectionate gestures, such as hugs, kisses, or cuddling.
Shared Experiences: Plan and embark on new adventures together, whether it's traveling, trying new activities, or simply exploring new places in your city.
Resources for Setting Relationship Goals
Marriage.com: Offers practical tips and examples for setting relationship goals.
Calm Blog: Provides insights on how to build a healthy partnership through goal-setting.
Success in Depth: Discusses SMART goals for relationships and how to implement them.
Matthews Counseling: Shares connection goals based on the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Setting relationship goals is a proactive way to nurture your partnership and ensure that both partners feel valued and supported. By working together and staying committed to your shared vision, you can build a strong, lasting bond.
Noah loves Allie. But Allie has her mind to marry someone else.
Listen in as they talk about it.
Introducing "Dating with Purpose" - Your Ultimate Guide to Intentional Love!
Get ready to elevate your love life with our first-ever hardback dating manual, "Dating with Purpose," launching just in time for February 2025. This essential volume is designed to guide singles of all ages toward meaningful, intentional relationships that can pave the way to an iconic marriage.
Packed with expert advice, practical tips, and real-life success stories, "Dating with Purpose" helps you navigate the modern dating landscape with confidence and clarity. Learn how to communicate your intentions, prioritize compatibility, and build a strong foundation for a lasting partnership.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to transform your dating journey and move closer to the iconic marriage you've always dreamed of. "Dating with Purpose" is more than just a manual—it's your trusted companion on the path to love. 💖
Grab your copy this February for $25 eBook or $40 print, and start your journey toward intentional, purposeful connections!
Examples of Dating on Purpose
What does dating with goals and on purpose look like in action?
I probably would have avoided so many issues if I saw dating examples that were outside of television. Here are some examples of how couples who are dating with purpose and aiming for marriage might set and work towards their relationship goals:
Example 1: Clara and James
Goal: Strengthen Communication
Weekly Check-Ins: Clara and James schedule a weekly check-in every Sunday evening to discuss their feelings, experiences, and any issues that have come up during the week.
Active Listening: They practice active listening techniques, such as reflecting back what the other person says and asking open-ended questions, to ensure they understand each other deeply.
Conflict Resolution: They set a goal to address conflicts calmly and constructively, using "I" statements to express their feelings without blaming each other.
Example 2: Emily and Alex
Goal: Financial Planning for the Future
Budgeting Together: Emily and Alex create a joint budget to manage their expenses and save for future goals like buying a house or planning a wedding.
Financial Transparency: They share their financial situations openly, including debts, income, and spending habits, to build trust and make informed decisions together.
Savings Goals: They set specific savings goals, such as saving a certain amount each month for their emergency fund and a separate account for their wedding expenses.
Example 3: Sarah and Daniel
Goal: Deepening Emotional Intimacy
Quality Time: Sarah and Daniel commit to spending one evening a week without any distractions (no phones, TV, etc.) to focus entirely on each other, sharing thoughts, dreams, and aspirations.
Love Languages: They take the love languages quiz to understand each other's primary love language and make an effort to express love in ways that resonate most with their partner.
Shared Activities: They find activities they both enjoy, such as hiking or cooking together, to create shared experiences that strengthen their bond.
Example 4: Mia and Liam
Goal: Aligning Life Goals and Future Plans
Future Vision: Mia and Liam have regular conversations about their long-term goals, such as career aspirations, where they want to live, and their views on marriage and children.
Vision Board: They create a vision board together, filled with images and quotes that represent their shared dreams and goals, keeping it somewhere visible to remind them of their shared journey.
Reevaluating Goals: They agree to reevaluate their goals every six months to ensure they are still aligned and adjust as needed to reflect any changes in their circumstances or aspirations.
Example 5: Ava and Noah
Goal: Maintaining Independence While Growing Together
Personal Time: Ava and Noah set aside time each week to pursue their individual hobbies and interests, ensuring they maintain a sense of personal identity within the relationship.
Supporting Personal Growth: They encourage each other to attend workshops, classes, or pursue educational opportunities that contribute to their personal and professional development.
Healthy Boundaries: They discuss and establish healthy boundaries that respect each other's need for personal space and time, fostering a balanced relationship dynamic.
By setting and working towards these goals, couples like Clara and James, Emily and Alex, Sarah and Daniel, Mia and Liam, and Ava and Noah can build strong, lasting relationships founded on mutual understanding, shared values, and purposeful actions.
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