“What in the world is a Love Map??” you might wonder. It’s a term coined by The Gottman Institute referring to the part of your brain where personally important information about your partner’s life is stored. ⠀
Love Maps are part of what makes a marriage work and the principle of a Love Map is simply this: Knowing the little things about your partner’s life creates a strong foundation for your friendship and intimacy. ⠀
⠀
This comes quite naturally when two people first meet during their dating years. They just want to know every little thing about each other! But down the line, somewhere after marriage and kids, this sometimes takes a backseat. We also need to remember that we all grow and change as people. So that means our Love Maps of each other need to be updated every now and then. ⠀
⠀
Here’s a fun way to strengthen your Love Maps today. Try to answer these questions about each other and find out how much you know about your partner’s world:
- What was your partner wearing when you first met?
- What’s your partner’s favourite hobby?
- What stresses your partner right now?
- What is one of your partner’s favourite ways to relax?
- What is one of your partner’s greatest fears or disaster scenarios?
- What is your partner’s ideal job?
- What is your partner’s fondest unrealized dream?
⠀
You might learn a new thing or two, and it might also be a great start to a deeper and more meaningful conversation that’s been waiting to happen. 🙂
This article is inspired by The Gottman Institute. Read more about Love Maps at Gottman.com.
