It’s the season to be jolly. Christmas is just around the corner, and, by now, you may have already planned what you’re going to do on that day. If you’re visiting family or friends, that’s great. But, if you’re spending quality time with your significant other during this important day, you need to plan some holiday dates.

Holiday Dates To Make Christmas More Special

The pressure is on during the holidays because so many things come up that require our attention. There are Christmas parties, holiday dinners, and Christmas shopping. In between all of those activities, you need to spend a bit of quality time with your significant other so your relationship doesn’t feel neglected. Here are a couple of holiday ideas that you can try:

1. Ugly Sweater Shopping

Some Christmases won’t be complete without a couple taking a photo of themselves wearing ugly Christmas shirts. Shopping for some could be fun. This date could become a yearly thing with you and your partner. It’ll be a new and unique Christmas tradition.

2. Wine Tasting

Usually, Christmas dinners involve wine – a whole lot of wine. Before you attend any dinners, why not go on a wine tasting date with your loved one? After, you’ll be able to wow your friends with your choice of wine. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone.

3. Christmas Movie Marathon

Another date that you can go on could be taken at home. Because it is the holiday season, there will definitely be a whole slew of holiday movies available for viewing.

4. Cooking Cake Mugs

Have you seen those YouTube videos where gurus make cakes that materialize with just the use of a microwave? Try making some of them with your significant other. It’s likely something that you haven’t tried before, so why not try it during the holidays?

As you have noticed, the shortlist contains suggestions that won’t cost you much. You’ll likely have spent a lot already so these are great ideas that you can try so you can easily spend quality time with your partner. For more tips on relationships, check out more posts on our blog.

We often hear the saying “Honesty is the best policy.” But, before you spill your gut out to your partner, there may be some things that are best kept to yourself. You may have to say white lies to cover these things up or you may just have to keep quiet about them, never bringing them up in conversations.

The Only White Lies You’re Allowed To Tell

There are specific instances during your relationship that need white lies, believe it or not. These instances are not really lying for the sake of not telling the truth. The white lies are to protect your partner from getting hurt. The things listed below are supposed to save your partner some grief and also keep your relationship healthy:

1. Things That Make Your Partner Feel Insecure

All of us have insecurities. These can be big or small, depending on a person’s background or personality. Try not to fuel your partner’s insecurities by not bringing up the things that make him or her feel like less of a person.

2. When You Don’t Like Their Loved Ones

Your partner’s loved ones could be family or friends that have been a big part of his or her life. Sometimes, however, you find that some of them have personalities that are not agreeable to you. Try to keep a civil relationship with them and try not to tell your partner about it.

It will not benefit the relationship if you are the cause of the estrangement between your partner and his or her friends or family members.

3. When You Don’t Like What Matters To Them

It can be a hobby, job or person – things that are really close to your partner’s heart. In the course of your relationship, you must have known the value of the things your partner holds dear. However, what’s important to your partner may not be important to you at all. And, that’s alright. Just make sure that you don’t express your dislike, or at least don’t be untactful about it.

4. Their “Rating” Compared To Previous Partners

Obviously, comparing your current partner to your ex would hurt. Of course, we cannot help it, if we are either in a better or worse predicament. But, whatever the “rating” is, try to keep it to yourself. If you are truly in a better relationship right now, then by all means just tell your partner how happy you are. But, if things aren’t going well currently, keep it to yourself.

White lies aren’t all bad, after all. Being honest is important, but sometimes a small fib can actually maintain our relationship’s good health. For more advice on relationships, read our blog.

In the dating scene as well as in your career, you can get ahead if you know how to become more attractive. It is not just about the looks, it’s about how you present yourself and make the most of what you have, like your face, stature and the manner you go about yourself.

To Become More Attractive Is Easier Than You Think

Here are some simple ways to become more attractive to other people or your date, even without the added value of style and a good looking face:

1. Be an interesting person.

Simply be an interesting person. People love novelty. You may not be very witty but if you read a lot of motivational books as well as general information, you will have a lot of topics to talk about. You can also have an answer to a wide variety of questions thrown at you. Have an opinion about some general topics but be friendly when airing them out.

2. Leave a great first impression.

As a rule, you only have a window of 2-30 seconds to make a good first impression. Needless to say, you present your best self. Think about grooming, posture, style, and of course, your words. But, you don’t have to pretend to be somebody else. People still love authenticity. Pretending will not be sustainable in the long term.

3. Be genuinely available.

When you are in a gathering, you don’t have to appear needy or aloof. Just be your casual self when interacting with people. When somebody approaches you to talk, don’t balk. Answer questions politely and listen intently.

4. Be interested in the moment.

A lot of people think about what will happen next after an encounter. Yet they fail to be present and mentally alert at the moment. So they stutter and find themselves at a loss. If you are talking to somebody, make eye contact and be present in the situation. If you think that you are not getting anywhere, you can politely excuse yourself and find another person to talk to.

There is a sea of people out there. If you want to circulate some more in your search, work to become more attractive as a person and not just as a lover. Read other posts on our blog.

Many things have been said about what makes dating or a relationship work. But, actually, the key relationship ingredient that should always be present is compassion. You may think that compassion is not that big of a deal, but there are plenty of reasons why it is.

Compassion Is The Key Relationship Ingredient To Being Happy In Love

Compassion is being able to feel what your partner is feeling, even in suffering. You identify with them, and this feeling can help you cope during the most difficult times of your relationship. There are four horses of divorce, so they say, and these are contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling. Compassion can circumvent all of those.

Compassion In The Face Of Contempt

Many people are not even aware that how they are acting is already showing contempt. Instances like rolling your eyes when your partner is talking is already an act of contempt. Compassion will not let you do that because you know how insulting your actions can feel.

Compassion In The Midst Of Criticism

When a relationship is starting to become rocky, the criticisms become harsher as well. It seems that your partner can’t do anything right. This is totally the opposite of compassion, where you identify with your partner’s struggles. Instead, when you have the key relationship ingredient down, you will be more supportive and be nurturing towards your partner.

Compassion VS Defensiveness

When there is criticism, there is defensiveness. But, when one partner starts to exhibit compassionate behavior, the other party will most likely soften and be less defensive.

Compassion To Avoid Stonewalling

Compassion is not just for your partner but also for yourself. If you have self-compassion, you are able to look deeper into yourself. You are able to soothe or comfort yourself in times of difficulties. The higher your self-compassion, the higher the self-esteem you will have, which will enable you to become more open to your partner.

Are you having troubles in your relationship? Or, do you just feel that your relationship can still improve somehow? The good news is that this key relationship ingredient known as compassion can be learned. You can train yourself to show it. And, it is even scientifically proven. Brain MRI studies show that people who were trained in compassion have shown significant changes in their brains. So if there is a problem, learn to be compassionate. For more tips, read our blog.