As I think about making positive behavior change, I am reminded of one of my weaknesses that I have tried to turn into a strength: expressing love. Over the last 14 years, I have been learning about the love languages of my wife and children. While I'm frankly still quite pathetic at giving the love others want, one thing I have begun improving started whenI gave each person a love journal with a singular purpose to hold love notes from all of us to that person. While thanks for the Love Journal goes to my friend, the concept of writing 'words of affirmation' is widely accepted. The world romanticizes the love messages written on the mirror in lipstick, the handwritten note passed in class, the note placed in a husband's lunch box, the note falling out of the pile of school papers or read by a home-sick child away at college. Gary Chapman, the author The 5 love languages documents five love languages that address most of people's needs:
- Words of affirmation
- Acts of service
- Receiving gifts
- Quality time
- Physical touch
In fact, Gary has created a most memorable video to demonstrate those love languages in action. Give this a watch. You'll enjoy it. For me, the value of the 'Love Journal' is the singular purpose of that book. It contains love notes and that is it. It isn't cluttered with school notes or daily diary entries, but instead includes individual messages from each person in the family to that one person and when that child leaves home, he will have 18 years of love notes all together in one place. How are you successful at showing love?