build me up, buttercup

Love. A four letter word. A four letter word that is loaded. A four letter word that can be used to truly express how much you care for someone. This four letter word can also be condescending or used against people. Sometimes people use "love" just to say the word and not truly mean it. We have all been there before and we have all been "in love", but were you or are you truly "in love" with that person?

This week we are talking about the difference of being in a positive, supportive relationship with your partner. *If you do not have a romantic partner at the moment, no big deal! This works for friendships too!*

I can honestly say, and I'm sure most of you can as well, I have been "in love" before, just with the wrong person. When thinking back, I can honestly say that yes I loved, but to be more honest I just cared about that person, a lot. Some may say, well that is what love is about, caring for that person. I agree, to a tiny extent and here is why.

The power of positivity. You may be thinking...I have heard this before, that's so generic! But hear me out! Think about you and your partners relationship...is it in a good place? If so awesome, but what I have to say I believe still helps. If the answer is no, definitely try and hear me out. In relationships, individuals may feel like they start losing themselves. *Been there, done that!*

A positive, supportive relationship can prevent that from happening. For example, my boyfriend and I have been together for just a little bit over three years. From the very beginning, we have always taken time to listen and understand each other. We have never tried to change who each other are. Through the good times and the bad, we have been each others #1 supporter. My boyfriend, bless his soul, was always there to listen to every single college break down. Did he give an opinion? Nope he just let me talk and get what I needed off my chest and that's how he supported me. This can be hard to do, especially if you always have an opinion...*which always deserves to be heard and a true supportive partner will always do that for you*.

Your partner should always build you up when you are down. If your partner is more often the reason you are down, step back and reflect why, because it should not be that way. That is not what love is. Story time: Last summer I got bit by a mosquito right above my eyelid. I woke up to a swollen eye shut, I couldn't open it, and the first thing he says to me is you're still beautiful. That is love. That is building me up when I am completely down and am visually impaired.

My boyfriend and I have both been working on trying to have a more positive mindset. In our relationship and in our life as a whole. Yes there are days where negativity takes over. That is life. Having a positive mindset makes a world of a difference and that is a whole post for another day. My boyfriend and I take the positive mindset seriously in our relationship. I can't tell you the last time we even had an argument because with this mindset it makes all the difference. We also use this behind the scenes when pushing each other everyday to be the best we can be personally and for our relationship.

I am not telling all of you this to try and say I have the perfect relationship, to me I do, but nothing is perfect. I am telling you this because I have been there. I have been where when saying, "I love you" I did not mean it, it just felt like the right thing to say. I have been where the other individual in the relationship and or friendship is always right and you barely have an opinion in the matter. I have been in a relationship and or friendship, where your voice is never heard and it doesn't matter. This list of negative aspects can honestly keep going on. If you truly know me, I have probably shared these stories with you. What was the result? I was never happy. I was a negative person and had ZERO self confidence.

What does the word love mean to me? Being in a relationship and being treated as an equal, being supported, pushing me to be the best I can be and to always chase what I want, and being heard with an added bonus of feeling like I am the most beautiful girl to my man (that feeling also rocks).

My Motivation for this Monday:

BUILD EACH OTHER UP! Stop being so dang negative. Our society is negative enough and always so darn quick to judge. Stop.

With your partner: Reflect. Do you still feel the same way when the relationship first started? (still get happy to see them, butterflies, all those fun, happy feelings). What has changed since then? What can you do to get you back that way? When is the last time you and your partner shared a genuine laugh together? I know for me it is every single day. I am not motivating you to end any relationship and or friendship that you are in. I am motivating you to be in a positive, supportive relationship and or friendship that you deserve. Trust me when I say this, it makes life easier and your relationship easier.

You always deserve happiness!

That's this weeks Motivation Monday.

Thanks for stopping by, I will see you next week!

~Em

#MMWithEm