Life Dinner: Building Intimacy and Growth in Your Relationship
Are you familiar with the 'Life Dinner' method? This powerful monthly gathering, introduced by multi-millionaire venture capitalist Brad Feld of Foundry Group, caught my husband's attention on LinkedIn through a post by Ben Meer. It was also discussed in an episode of the Tim Ferris podcast (#448), where Feld emphasized its value as a means to develop a strong bond with your partner.
What is Life Dinner?
It's a monthly scheduled moment to delve deeper into various aspects of your relationship. This method aims to build intimacy, trust, and responsibility.
Life Dinner isn't a replacement for daily connection with your partner, but rather a supplement to it.
How does it work?
It starts with scheduling a monthly dinner. My husband and I plan the session at the end of the current month for the following month. Ideally, aiming for an actual month between each session. A session can be as short as 20 minutes, but ideally, 1 to 2 hours are allotted to truly explore more profound discussions.
During Life Dinner, three crucial categories are discussed:
- Personal reflection on the past month.
2. Relationship reflection on the past month.
3. Personal goals for the coming month.
Guiding questions you can ask yourself:
1.Personal reflection on the past month:
- What was I proud of?
- Where could I have done better?
- What causes me anxiety?
- What am I worried about for the future?
2.Relationship reflection on the past month:
- What’s one small thing we noticed about each other that we love?
- Are there things we learned about from our relationship?
- How might we want to improve moving forward?
3.Personal goals for the coming month:
- What do I want to achieve over the next four weeks?
(This is helptful for prioritization and accountability.)
It's important to use these questions as a starting point and adapt them to your own relationship.
The ground rules:
1.Open communication. Stay open and connected even during difficult conversations.
2.Be in the moment, give full attention to each other.
3.Approach erverything form a place of love and ask thoughtful questions.
4.Prepare ahead of time. Keep a running journal of things you want to discuss.
The pinnacle of a relationship
The ultimate goal? Growing together emotionally, spiritually, and physically. My husband and I have applied this method for the past 8 months, further strengthening our relationship and adding more depth. Life Dinner gives us the opportunity to truly reflect on ourselves and as partners. Do we want the same things? Are we motivating each other enough to grow? Are we giving each other space? Do we support one another? Do you need something from the other?
By implementing Life Dinner, you open the door to a deeper connection and a stronger partnership. It can be a game-changer for you and your partner. Give it a chance and see how it can enhance your relationship!