Time: < 30 Minutes
STEP 1: Look for opportunities each day to increase physical touch, while being aware that not everyone enjoys the same amount of touching (so know your audience and communicate).
STEP 2: A few considerations:
- When you need to express empathy, a light hand on the shoulder or a touch on the hand increases the effect of your message.
- Hold your loved one’s hand when walking into a store
- Hug your children when they wake up in the morning or before they go to bed
- Kiss your significant other when you see them after work or before you leave for work.
If your kids/significant other do not show you the affection that you crave (maybe physical touch/affection is your love language), ask them to increase their affection with you and give them examples of your requests (i.e. Please hold my hand during the movie, I’d like a back massage, Please hug/kiss me before you go to work, etc.) Giving them examples will help them have a mental picture of success, so they’ll know specifically what to do.
STEP 4: If they increase their affections to you, thank them and encourage them to continue. In other words, reward good behavior.
