IS LOVE FOREVER?   

This weekend, learn some fantastic facts about the Body!

www.tobvirtualconference.com

HOW A DATING WEBSITE FROM THE CARIBBEAN IS CATERING FOR SINGLE PROFESSIONALS DURING A PANDEMIC…& BEYOND!

When global events occur, its effects are felt by almost everyone, whether you’re from a metropolis or a burgeoning island in the Caribbean Sea.

Let’s cast our minds back to a little over 10 years ago when our world’s economy was plunged into a recession. Those directly affected, including us millennials fresh out of school, were faced with the sobering reality that the “job security” which was once enjoyed by our parents, would be off the table for most of us.

Yet, for many millennials, there was something deeply amazing about this. If we were to survive, we would have to create our careers for ourselves.

And, what’s better for a millennial than running their own ship!

Fast forward now to present times. 2020. A year so many of us were looking forward to - but then...a pandemic hit.

Almost no one alive today has ever experienced anything on a scale as this. Such an occurrence has forced the world as a collective to pause and reflect on many things...including the fact that life really, really, really is short. In other words: we need to make the most of it - stat!

And for those coming to terms with the reality of the pandemic while sitting in our rooms, locked away in our homes, detached from the wider world, and understanding (perhaps for the first time) the importance of no longer taking life for granted, we have found ourselves thinking really deeply about so many things, especially, well... that special person for our lives.

Taking all of this into consideration, Stheart-up.com was born (FYI: It’s pronounced: “Startup” - as it was created for the single owners of Start-ups and other career professionals)!

The main question the minds behind Stheart-up wanted to answer when developing this site was: how do you create a dating website for purpose-driven, dream-chasing professionals, who are ready to find their life-long equal?

They came up with the following:

1. Single, Purpose-Driven Professionals crave Deeper Connections - they aren’t looking for “hookups”: The owners of Stheart-up.com spoke with several single, young professionals and discovered that at the heart of it, they’re searching for the same thing: someone who understands and respects their drive...and someone who is simultaneously chasing after their dreams. Their ideal partner recognises that life is a gift; that time is crucial; that hard work and determination are essential; and that becoming the greatest version of oneself is an undisputed attraction. It is further hoped that through a website such as this, single professionals would find someone with whom they can (finally) have higher-level, stimulating conversations.

2. They want Confidence that the site attracts people like them. The Stheart-up.com team has put a series of measures in place so as to create a community of like-minded individuals. Firstly, there are two ways to sign up at Stheart-up.com: either a) by logging in via https://www.linkedin.com/" target="_blank">Linkedin: which is perhaps the world’s largest online platform for professionals; or b) by answering Stheart-up’s 20-plus “About You” questionnaire. This questionnaire is specifically tailored for single career professionals, especially entrepreneurs, who desire wholesome, healthier and more meaningful relationships. This questionnaire is not only integral in terms of triggering the matching algorithm, but it was another feature put in place to help ensure that Stheart-up.com’s community of users are on a similar path in life. Research shows that most people who are looking for ‘quick and easy’ relationships would not bother to complete a questionnaire of that nature; whereas those who are, are much more likely to!

Another feature which gives users confidence is the “Unfriend” button. This allows users to remove anyone with whom they no longer wish to have contact. Users can also reach out directly to the Stheart-up.com team to report any safety issues.

They can also choose which information about themselves they wish to share with everyone; keep private; or reveal to a select number of people.

Lastly Stheart-up.com, which has a free plan, also offers a very affordable paid upgrade (US $5.99/month). Again, research reveals that people looking for more serious, longer-lasting relationships would not be averse to a paid platform. The paid version’s features rival those of most major dating websites on the market today, with the added bonus of offering Entrepreneurs the opportunity to Advertise their businesses!

3. They want the technology to connect remotely. This after all is the point of an online dating site: to effectively connect people through digital technology. On the free plan, users can search for potential partners, send friend requests (unlimited), view profiles; and directly message (up to three) persons they’re interested in. For just a US $5.99/month upgrade, the full scope of features are theirs! They can directly message unlimited people; they can take advantage of the instant messaging feature; they can even enjoy the ever-popular Video Chat service: whilst running Ads for their businesses - along with many other https://stheart-up.com/register/" target="_blank">features!

4. They want to Choose their Partner, and not leave this solely up to a dating algorithm. Want to know how compatible you are with someone on Stheart-up.com? Just check out their profile and you can see the percentage to which you are matched with them. However, the Stheart-up.com team has given the power of choice of partner to our users. Whilst most dating platforms choose your matches for you, and don’t allow you to seek out potential partners on your own, Stheart-up.com places that power squarely in our users’ hands. The “https://stheart-up.com/search-members/" target="_blank">Find Your Match” search feature, our primary feature, allows users to explore the people on the site, and enables them to add and contact them if they wish. The site just gives you a little nudge by displaying your match compatibility percentage as mentioned above.

Stheart.up.com is very new - yet, already, the reviews from our users are amazing!

● “I love the idea of this site. Being an entrepreneur, who is also studying, I find it a challenge to meet and get to know people nowadays, especially during these Covid times. Stheart-up.com is a great, safe alternative for me.”

● “Due to the fact that Stheart-up.com is user-friendly, and we are still in Covid times, this would be a safe way to meet and interact with new people.”

● “I believe that Stheart-up.com presents a level of compatibility and like-mindedness that other dating websites do not focus on.”

● “I personally know quite a few young professionals like myself who are so caught up in their day-to-day activities and their work, that it’s tough for them to find someone to date in the traditional way. I definitely recommend this site!”

Are you (or do you know) a single professional looking for a deeper, more lasting connection?

Join Stheart-up.com today!

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS during the time of COVID in T&T and beyond.

By Keegan Ellis and Hedy Tenia

What is your philosophy of life and are the relationships in your life healthy based on your philosophy? Is a healthy relationship defined by no disagreements or by no anger?

Whether we are aware or not our lives are full of relationships; between boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife, in friendships and family relations. Sometimes behaviours create an unhealthy environment in which to grow, where problems and disagreements are never solved but instead swept under the rug and hidden behind gifts, a nice date and sometimes even acts of intimacy. These temporary solutions soon fail and the issues make a comeback worse than the first time they occurred.

Some relationships are more healthy and nurturing and will allow the individual to become the best version of him/herself, the person that God wishes that individual to be. No real relationship can exist without opposing opinions, however, when these disputes are resolved in a civil manner and persons can come to an agreement or even an agreement to disagree without it leading to physical, verbal and emotional violence and abuse, then it can be considered a healthy relationship.

In this time of COVID, family members are now forced to spend more time with each other and because of this, they now must deal with a lot of unresolved issues of the past. A loud and sometimes violent, verbal and or physical exchange is usually how these issues are addressed in our culture and this just raises the toxicity of the environment hence the rise in domestic violence and other similar cases of relationship problems. Persons simply are not used to being around each other this much and now that they have no choice, they must confront each other.

How do we change this confrontation even beyond COVID 19? As with everything start looking at yourself first to see if you are a toxic or healthy individual that is in the relationship, familial or not.

In order for a change from toxic to healthy to take place in relationships it requires both or all persons in the relationship to do some intrapersonal work (meaning within the mind) and make the decision that they are not going to lash-out but instead remain as calm as possible and talk things out. Once one person has this mindset it creates a stepping stone for others to follow.

Man or woman, you love the person(s) yet for you that love may mean feeling and showing jealousy, expecting the other to like the same things and if the relationship is intimate expecting that the other person to only focus on you. More than that, you may believe that if you feel love for another, the other person(s) should know it and you believe that you do not need to say the words. Additionally, persons may think that past friendships should be discontinued, because he/she believes him/herself to be the highlight of that person’s existence. This type of insecurity is at the base, along with a lack of trust, for a toxic relationship (an unhealthy one.)

If you see these in yourself and recognize it in the other person(s), don’t dismiss it by making excuses such as: it is only seen when the individual drinks or under stress or with certain individuals or groups or for whatever justification that will allow you to feel good about the relationship. Instead, make a choice as to how you should proceed with that awareness and knowledge. We don’t choose the family we are born into however we can choose who we will consider family even if a biological connection is not present and we also choose who we want to have more than a familial relationship with.

“Communication is key”. When considering how all issues can be solved or avoided it all comes down to good communication. Remember we are all humans and we make mistakes but we need to be careful because the same mistakes may be repeated in different circumstances. Then it will no longer be considered a mistake but a habit that has developed as a part of that individual. Habits can be good or bad. Bad habits are easy to acquire and hard to get rid of.

I still remember walking to the mall one day with my friend during the beginning of my high school years. We both had on cute outfits and were hoping to get some attention. We would smile and giggle when guys honked or whistled out of their windows, harmlessly enjoying the attention and affirmation.

Then one car actually pulled over as one of the men in the car hung out of the window calling to us and our hearts almost stopped! We thought we were going to die or be abducted, until they finally drove off again. That was not the last time we have gotten cat-calls but it was certainly the last time we went looking for them.

It’s funny that you can get what you want and then realize you have no idea what to do with it and even that you don’t actually want it.

I think the same thing happens to the woman that gets all dolled up in a little black dress and goes to clubs, bars, or parties where most of the crowd has a ‘hook up culture’ mentality. She will get attention all right, but all too often it does not lead to the love she was hoping for.

It’s this paradoxical mindset of needing to be sexy in order to be beautiful that keeps many of us women finding ourselves wearing clothes or acting in ways that appeal to an idea that in order to find love we must be the hottest, sexiest woman in the room.

That may draw the eyes of men, but it will not draw the heart of one.

It contributes to lust and objectification because it feeds into the reduction of ourselves to just our sexual appeal. Our bodies become what we have to offer, afraid that our interior selves wouldn’t be enough.

The problem is that most of us don’t even know that we are doing this! Each woman who does this, at least deep down, really is hoping to have one man see her as beautiful, pursue her exclusively, and commit his life to her.

I know these were my intentions when I entered college wearing leggings, small tank tops, short shorts, and bikinis.

I wanted to be beautiful.

I wanted to be loved.

I wanted to be chosen, for one man to lay down his life for me.

I really had no intention of being a source of temptation or putting my body out there for all men.

As I met good, solid men and began to learn their sides of the story, I learned more about the billion dollar porn industry (for example that 1 in 5 online searches is for porn and about 70% of men in my age group use it monthly and a good amount of women do too) that had enslaved many of them since they were just little boys. I realized talking to them just how much my life truly affects those around me, especially living in the incredibly sexualized world that we do.

Us women send a powerful message to men by how we chose to dress, act, and speak. With true modesty we help our brothers who are on the road to healing their purity of minds and hearts. We help our sisters by making ourselves less tempting for harmful body comparisons. We help ourselves by taking a step towards preventing being seen as objects by those who do wish to lust after us and by inviting others to see the deeper mystery and fullness of our beauty as a whole woman.

Being beautiful does not mean being sexy. Being beautiful (and truly attractive to a man) means that your character, your heart, your virtue, your body–everything about you draws in the heart of a man and inspires him to rise to be worthy of your hand in marriage. Ultimately, it inspires him to grow in character and holiness so that he may be entrusted with you in your entirety.

Turning heads, attracting eyes, where does that lead you?

But turning a heart, now that is powerful.

“Beauty will save the world.”

Fyodor Dostoevsky

[Listen to Kaylin’s interview with Jason Evert, discussing “Should Christian Women Wear Bikinis?” on the Love > Lust Podcast HERE!

______________________

Kaylin Zumwalt (Koslosky) is a part time high school science teacher and a full-time wife to her best friend/husband and mama to her beautiful little girl. She loves hiking and being outdoors, and is passionate about sharing the beauty of Christ and true love with others.

http://https://verilymag.com/2020/02/why-breaking-up-is-hard-science-coping-recovery?utm_source=Verily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=818e7b6ffb-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_09_07_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e08a3e62a0-818e7b6ffb-88930637&mc_cid=818e7b6ffb&mc_eid=e0a58f5b47

Anyone who has experienced a breakup—and that’s most of us, according to researcher on romantic love and biological anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher—can attest to the pain and difficulty that ensues. Even mutually-agreed-upon breakups often leave both parties feeling terrible; there’s a reason for the term “brokenhearted.”

So why is the end of a relationship so hard? Why can’t you get that person out of your head regardless of how hard you try? Research has shown why our biology makes breaking up so hard for us, but thankfully it has also provided some helpful tips on what to do if you find yourself in that situation.

Your love is my drug

Kesha was onto something. Those who have been in love can attest to the fact that being in love feels like being on a happy high, especially in the beginning. You feel addicted to the other person—he is all you can think about or talk about. Much like a person addicted to a drug, when you’re in love, you just want more and more of your beloved—you want to see him more and be with him more often. Dr. Helen Fisher’s research on people who are in love found that the brain region that becomes active in these madly-in-love people is the same region that becomes active when a person is high on cocaine.

With this fact in mind, one can better understand the unfortunate aftermath if a romantic relationship should end; it’s something akin to a drug withdrawal. Dr. Fisher and her colleague Lucy Brown also did research on people’s brains after they had just been broken up with, and their findings are in line with Dr. Fisher’s previous research. While looking at images of their exes during MRIs, three brain regions light up in these heartbroken people: the first is the same brain region that lights up when someone is in love. Dr. Fisher explains the meaning of this in her TED talk, “When you’ve been dumped, the one thing you want to do is forget about this human being and then go on with your life, but no, you just love them harder.” That brain system is the reward system, and it only becomes more active when you can’t get what you want—a loving partner.

The second brain region that becomes activated in people experiencing a breakup is one associated with calculating gains and losses, which helps explain why we analyze (and over-analyze) what went wrong in the aftermath of a breakup. Finally, the brain region associated with deep attachment to another individual also becomes active in people who have been broken up with.

It doesn’t seem fair, right? Someone breaks your heart, and you feel more attached to them? “No wonder people suffer around the world,” Dr. Fisher summarizes. “When you’ve been rejected in love, not only are you engulfed with feelings of romantic love, but you’re feeling deep attachment to this individual. Moreover, this brain circuit for reward is working, and you’re feeling intense energy, intense focus, intense motivation, and the willingness to risk it all to win life’s greatest prize.” According to Fisher, love is an addiction—“a perfectly wonderful addiction when it’s going well, and a perfectly horrible addiction when it’s going poorly.”

Ways to cope with a breakup

While Dr. Fisher’s findings may seem a bit disheartening to the brokenhearted at first, learning about her research can actually allow us to understand our own reactions after a breakup, rather than berating ourselves for feeling a certain way. With this knowledge, a woman can give herself more grace when she starts crying again when she thought she was over him. With this knowledge, a woman who initiated the breakup with her partner may understand that it is normal for her brain to want her to get back with her ex, rather than doubting the sound and well-thought-out decision she made. Given Dr. Fisher’s findings, there are a few steps we can take for ourselves when a breakup is getting us down.

Self-care

Most of us can agree that recovering from an addiction is a big deal and a huge effort to be applauded. We would probably tell a friend going through it how great of a job she is doing and offer encouragement. Since a breakup activates those same brain regions that addiction withdrawal does, the first step in self-care is offering yourself the same grace and encouragement that you would give to someone recovering from an addiction. When you know that your biology is not only making it harder for you to forget your ex, but also making you want him more and feel more attached to him, you can be gentler with yourself. While manicures and shopping sprees are certainly nice, real self-care is about taking care of your own emotions, which often looks like being kinder rather than harsher with yourself, letting yourself cry, or saying “no” to activities that might overwhelm you more easily.

On the other hand, self-care might also include doing more, such as getting involved in more activities, hobbies, or projects. Those who are recovering from alcoholism are encouraged to start new (or old but beloved) activities that interest them that don’t involve alcohol. In a similar fashion, trying out new projects post-breakup that don’t remind you of your ex (or getting back into activities you enjoyed without him) can help you get your mind off him, find something you’re passionate about, or just enjoy something fun when you most need your spirits lifted.

Acting “out of love”

Staying virtually connected to your ex—texting, talking on the phone, or even just seeing him on social media—can make all the feelings you had (or still have) for him come flooding back. If being in love is like being addicted to a drug, and a breakup is like drug withdrawal, then having things around that remind you of your ex could be likened to keeping that drug lying around your house—not a good move! Thus, if you’re trying to fall out of love with someone, it is best to act “out of love” until you actually don’t feel in love. To set yourself up for success in a breakup, delete your ex’s number from your phone, and unfollow his social media accounts. It can also be helpful to avoid sentimental places you shared, and get rid of pictures of him or gifts he gave you.

While this might seem extreme—especially if you and your ex ended things amicably—this is a good way to spare yourself an excess of the painful feelings that accompany reminders of him. Random things will remind you of your ex—a street you drive down, a song that comes on the radio, a random thought that comes to mind, Valentine’s Day—and these little memories will provide enough hurt and difficulty in coming down from the drug that is love. It can be helpful to avoid additional reminders and emotional fallout.

Should you decide to stay peripherally connected to your ex, the fallout of the breakup may be prolonged, or worse. Maybe you want to remain on good terms or you want him to think highly of you, so you don’t cut off all forms of access to him. However, keeping an eye on his life, even from a distance, may trigger feelings of nostalgia and sadness. And staying connected may keep you from being able to move on; if you feel connected to him and struggle to fall out of love with him, it might keep you from finding love elsewhere or just enjoying life to the fullest as a single person.

While getting back together might sound like a great thing right now, remember that there are reasons that you and you ex broke up—whether you were the one who initiated it or not. Keeping that door open indefinitely may keep you from falling out of love with your ex, and you might end up getting back together without considering or working on the reasons that led your relationship to end.

Finding the support of friends

For those who are recovering from addictions, there are all sorts of support groups and networks; Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, rehabilitation facilities, and family therapy are a few of the resources that all provide companionship along the way. A group of people recovering from the same issue, teams of professionals, or loved ones come together to support and work with a recovering person. In AA and NA, the 12 steps are not just emailed out to individuals. Rather, a group is formed and sponsors are assigned to each individual. The reason for all of this is not just for accountability; therapists and professionals recognize the power of social support in total healing, of someone who can say “I’ve been there,” or even, “I’m going through that now, too.”

Likewise, in recovering from a heartbreaking breakup, investing in the non-romantic relationships in your life can be life-giving. Especially if you’re used to being with or talking with your ex almost every day, the absence can feel stark—video chatting or spending time with loved ones can help to stave off feelings of loneliness. If you’re not sure how to initiate a conversation with them, you can just be honest: “I’m really struggling after breaking up with Joe. Do you have time for coffee this week?” You can be straightforward with loved ones about what you need—a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, relationship advice, a girls’ night out, or time to talk about or do something completely unrelated.

Don’t be afraid to seek out friends who have gone through (or are going through) similar situations, too. The solidarity of someone who has been there, or is currently there, can be exactly the balm your broken heart needs. It can help to talk to a friend who knows what it feels like or one who is on the other side of a painful breakup and can attest that it does indeed get better. Again, don’t hesitate being direct with what you need when reaching out: “Hi Sam, Chris and I recently broke up, and I know you went through that with Bradley. Would you be open to talking with me about it? I’m having a hard time.” Most people are more than willing to share their experiences, especially if they know it can help someone else.

As with all things, knowledge is power. When you think about the fact that a breakup is like an addiction withdrawal, it should encourage you to give yourself—or a friend, sister, or colleague—some serious grace. Recovery from an addiction takes time, effort, and support—all things that you should allow and seek out in the aftermath of a breakup, too.

TAGSRELATIONSHIPSBREAKUPSBREAKUPDATING

Kelsey T. Chun, MFT

BY KELSEY T. CHUN, MFT

Kelsey Chun is a marriage and family therapist, freelance writer, and the author of With A Little Grace, a “wholesome journal” that showcases her array of interests. Kelsey lives in Michigan, but received her graduate and undergraduate degrees from Northwestern University, where she played varsity field hockey. You can follow her on Instagram @withalittlegrace_ for musings about style, relationships, mental health, and faith.