February Book of the Month: Eight Dates

31 Jan February Book of the Month: Eight Dates

Do you find yourself getting in cyclical arguments with your significant other? Do you feel emotionally distant or closed off? Are you simply looking for ways to better connect with your partner?

John and Julie Gottman’s book, “Eight Dates,” is a step-by-step guide to communicating about the things that matter most to you and your partner. The Gottmans invite couples to go on eight dates, while diving into conversations related to eight make-or-break issues in relationships: trust, conflict, sex, money, family, adventure, spirituality and dreams.

With interactive activities and prompts, “Eight Dates” doesn’t just highlight what makes a relationship last, it highlights how to make it last. It encourages readers to get talking, and to take an active role in transforming their relationship into the one of their dreams.

Sustaining a long-term relationship takes a huge amount of time, effort, humility and love. With “Eight Dates,” the Gottmans give couples the resources they need to discover (or rediscover) their partners in a whole new way.

If you’re struggling in your relationship. we’d encourage you to grab a copy of “Eight Dates” at your local library or bookstore, and begin this important journey towards greater satisfaction and connection. If you need additional support, consider looping in a mental health professional. It’s likely that they’ll have other helpful tools to get you thinking and acting on any current frustrations within your relationship.

A Few of Our Favorite Quotes from “Eight Dates”

“Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures, and small acts.”

“Make dedicated, nonnegotiable time for each other a priority, and never stop being curious about your partner. Don’t assume you know who they are today, just because you went to bed with them the night before. In short, never stop asking questions. But ask the right kind of questions.”

“If you enter into any long-term relationship thinking that the hallmark of its success is a lack of conflict, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment and failure.”