215 Nurturing Established Relationship Energy

Aug 2, 2025

Reconnecting in long-term relationships is crucial, especially after tough times. The hosts detail their intentional 5-day retreat that sparked renewal in their bond. They emphasize establishing Minimum Viable Agreements to clarify expectations and reinforce communication. Choosing familiar settings is key to deepening connections. Emotional challenges can be turned into growth opportunities through intentionality and active participation. Regular check-ins and explicit dialogue are essential to avoid misunderstandings and nurture a thriving partnership.

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INSIGHT

Choose To 'Be' Together, Not Fix

Choose to 'be' together instead of using every moment to reimagine the relationship.
Ken Hamilton committed to staying with who they are in the moment rather than fixing everything.

ADVICE

Use A Minimum Viable Agreement

Use a Minimum Viable Agreement to create a short written container for focused time away.
Joli Hamilton used an MVA while Ken made offers first so Joli could relax into being held.

ADVICE

Choose A Familiar Setting

Choose a familiar location so logistics and unknowns don't drain relational energy.
Joli Hamilton picked a place they'd been to so she could focus on connection, not travel stress.

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When you've been together for years, it's easy to let your relationship run on autopilot. But what happens when you need to reconnect, especially after a difficult period? In this episode, we share our personal journey of creating an intentional retreat to nurture our established relationship after 18 months of significant changes and challenges.

We believe that established relationships deserve just as much intentional care as new ones—maybe even more so! The routines and patterns that develop over time can either support your connection or slowly erode it. By creating a specific container for reconnection, we discovered a renewed sense of love and appreciation for each other that surprised even us.

We’re breaking down:

— How we created a 5-day retreat to nurture our established relationship energy

— The power of using a Minimum Viable Agreement (MVA) to create clear expectations and boundaries for our time together

— Why choosing a familiar environment reduced the need for resilience and allowed us to focus on each other

— The importance of regular check-ins to stay connected without falling into hypervigilance

— How practicing differentiation (recognizing where you end and your partner begins) creates space for authentic connection

— The value of having a "parking lot" for relationship issues that need discussion but can wait

— Using regulation tools when things get emotionally challenging, especially around intimacy

— Why explicit communication is crucial for preventing resentment from unmet implicit expectations

— How repair tools like our soft safe word "marshmallow" and the apology and accountability ladder helped us navigate difficult moments

— The necessity of preparation when creating intentional relationship experiences

Resources mentioned in this episode:

— NSI (Neuro Somatic Intelligence) techniques

— The Apology and Accountability Ladder and other repair techniques

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Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions