The willingness to take risks, to be authentic, and to be open to vulnerability is critical to a new relationship. To author and speaker Gregg Levoy and musician and former Silicon Valley tech executive Cindy Nelson, being able to work with each other's darkness and light - not to mention their "crazies" - allows them to go deeper in their connection with each other. Gregg & Cindy both began their relationship in May 2020. At the height of the pandemic, Gregg & Cindy navigated their budding relationship slowly, bearing the openness to balance out infatuation and romance with gentle doses of reality, indeed demonstrating that "love" is not only a feeling, but also a verb.

In this episode, Greg, Cindy, and I share the story of how they met and illustrate their unique way of connecting with each other. We discuss the value of catching and addressing issues while they're still small and describe how couples can use non-violent communication to resolve conflict. We also highlight how couples can cultivate safety in each other and explain why it can be beneficial to see a couples' therapist early on in the relationship.

"As we share our vulnerabilities, we become more capable of handling them, sharing them with somebody else, and putting our hearts in their hands." - Gregg Levoy

This week on Relationships! Let's Talk About It:

• How meeting during the pandemic helped Greg & Cindy take their time in their relationship
• Greg & Cindy's first meeting in person after months of written correspondence
• The dynamics of new relationships and how Cindy & Greg knew they wanted to pursue their connection further
• Purposefully balancing out infatuation and romance with gentle doses of reality
• The first question Cindy asked in person and how Greg established that he wanted somebody with depth
• Greg & Cindy's "crazies" and the importance of being open to vulnerability
• The power of intentional touch and its impact on a new relationship
• Establishing the need for some time alone and how Greg & Cindy satisfy each other's love languages
• The right time to bring the "love is blind" adage into a relationship
• How taking risks and exploring vulnerability brings more love, intimacy, and safety
• How Cindy's mindfulness practice helps her navigate her relationship with Greg
• Working through challenges while they're still small
• Using non-violent communication to work through conflicts and avoid kitchen-sinking
• Expecting potential challenges and milestones in new relationships
• Navigating the extrovert-introvert scale between Greg & Cindy
• Making peace with and respecting your partner's history and previous relationships
• Why it could be beneficial to see a relationship therapist earlier in a relationship

Related Content:

• The Loss of Touch
• Non-Violent Communication
• Building Trust in Relationships
• Heartbreak: Getting Whacked by Love
• Releasing Tension: The Courage to Feel
• The Importance of Self-Inquiry in Building Healthy Relationships
• Following Personal Passions and Taking Risks Can Nurture Your Relationships

Connect with Gregg Levoy:

• Gregg Levoy Website
• Gregg Levoy on Facebook
• Book: Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life by Gregg Levoy
• Book: Vital Signs: Discovering and Sustaining Your Passion for Life by Gregg Levoy

Connect with Cindy Nelson:

• Cindy Nelson on LinkedIn

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Let's Talk About It!

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Relationships! Let's Talk About It - the show to help you forge deeper, more meaningful connections and relationships with those around you. If you enjoyed this week's episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us a rating and review.

You can check out the original songs I have sung in my podcast at Pripo's Podcast Songs.

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Theme music "These Streets" provided by Adi the Monk