The BE Together Podcast

Is it about resolutions or reflections?  Bri and Eric give their take on how they set themselves up for a successful New Year.  They get into why resolutions often don't last, their financial relationship, self-worth, COVID (oh-no, the "c" word) and ultimately how they've helped prepare themselves for an ultra focused 2022. 

Definitions.... Fore = situated or placed in front.  Play = activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. Foreplay = most definitions say --- what happens before intercourse... What an awful definition in my mind and so short-sided.  How about..... Foreplay = the connection and playful embrace two partners share throughout their life that provides the foundation for meaningful sexual connection. We could probably even stop that definition right after the word "life." ❤️ Fore play starts when you wake up in the morning until you go to bed. ❤️ It starts with knowing what you like and what your partner likes… ❤️ It starts with identifying patterns you’ve had in past relationships and deciding if those patterns still serve you? ❤️ It starts with making an effort even when you don’t want to and being vulnerable about the difficulty of keeping intimacy alive… 😊 Normalize the fact that you may go through periods with neither of you are really feeling it….and foreplay hasn't been great.  That could even be foreplay! Take a listen to what our keys to Foreplay are!

Manipulation is a serious weapon in our society.  Feels like everyday we need to have our guard up from people and organizations we don't trust.  Why is it so rampant? Why can't we all just be honest? Say what we really think?   When manipulation becomes part of the fabric of our communication, it's hard to know when we're using it and when we aren't.  It can make genuine connection difficult. Marketing companies have spent millions in research learning how to hack your attention and trust, so it's no wonder we have become so guarded. Eric: Talks about how manipulation is a tool he picked-up early in his life, far before meeting Brianne.  In large part, he used manipulation to avoid uncomfortable conversations that were inconvenient to him and his selfish desires.  This tool would offer short term satisfaction and create divide long term.   When it becomes the fabric of our communication, it's hard to know when we using it and when we aren't.  It can make it hard to have genuine connection. Brianne: Talks about how over time she started to call Eric out on his manipulation and holds him accountable to communicating more genuinely. 

Brianne talks about her super high expectations of Eric in the first year of their relationship. Eric talks about how it was hard receiving lack of affirmations from Brianne. They both elude to why the relationship started off in this direction, but don't spill the beans on exactly why! Can you guess what it is?  Enjoy the entertainment and also leave with helpful takeaways on how to notice unwanted patterns, tell your partner what you need and avoid multiple realities within a relationship.