Courageous Love

The month of February highlights the beautiful holiday of Valentine’s Day. This month can be a time of joy for couples, but for others, it can be a time of sadness. Valentine’s Day can sometimes bring with it conflicting notions of love. The cultural narratives seem to imply and tell us that love is mostly about feeling good. It asks, “How can my partner fulfill me?”

There are many couples we see in therapy battling the demons that our culture and relationship experts imply are the cure for marital discord. The message is, you just need better communication, or you need to learn empathy, or just state your needs to your spouse. Most couples feel defeated by their inability to make it work. They alternate between blaming each other and themselves for not being able to bring harmony into the home. They plead, criticise, demand, negotiate, and withhold – all in an effort to create change!

Although communication and empathy skills are helpful and necessary at some point in the process towards healing, the first step is what I call Courageous Love. What is Courageous Love? Courageous Love is the ability to care for ourselves emotionally. We release our partner from being the primary person responsible for making us feel good. When this happens, our partner is released from being the primary person responsible for the other’s happiness, which lifts a heavy weight off of them and allows them to stay present versus running away in fear of this heavy responsibility. 

When your spouse sees that you can take care of your “Big” emotions, it creates intimacy. Your partner feels they can move towards you because they see you have the ability to take care of your emotions. Your spouse has less fear that they will be blamed or that they have to take care of your emotions, which means they can embrace the moment and stay in the present with you. 

How do you do this? If you and your partner can take what I call a U-turn, in which you look inside yourselves instead of looking at how your partner can make you feel better, you will each find that courageous love becomes a spontaneous way of life rather than something you must strive to achieve. You will find that your partner doesn’t have to take care of you because there is so much support you can get from yourself. True love is sacrificial and willing the good of the other.

For couples counseling or individual counseling on how to take care of your hurts and wounds without giving that job to your spouse, contact Therapy Solutions to make an appointment with one of our mental health therapists and Take Your Life Back! 

Are You Taking Care of Your Heart?

Have you been told your blood pressure is higher than it should be? Do you feel winded after climbing stairs or walking short distances? Your heart works hard every day to keep your body moving, and it deserves the same care and attention you give the rest of your health. At Therapy Solutions, our therapists take a whole-body approach to care, helping you strengthen your heart through movement, nutrition, and daily habits that support long-term wellness.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, yet most forms of it are preventable through consistent lifestyle changes. Regular activity, balanced nutrition, and stress management all play major roles in protecting your heart.

Our multidisciplinary team helps you build routines that improve cardiovascular health and make daily activities easier. Whether you’re working toward better stamina, recovering from a setback, or managing a chronic condition, Therapy Solutions provides care that meets you where you are.

Take the Next Step Toward Better Heart Health

Your heart works for you every day, make sure you’re working for it too. Therapy Solutions offers personalized exercise programs that help you regain strength, endurance, and energy safely.

Request an appointment today to start your heart health journey with our experienced therapy team. Together, we’ll help you move better, feel stronger, and live well!