The DNA of Love with Dr. Williams

Dating is hard enough once you're in a relationship, but getting there seems to be a battle in itself. When dating apps fail and our social circle is limited, it can appear impossible to meet the person of your dreams if said person is someone you know of but don't know personally. Then, if you're lucky enough to run into them randomly in life, you're faced with a completely different challenge altogether. How to initiate the courtship process with a complete stranger, when that stranger may be the one. This is called the cold open, and in this edition of the DNA of Love, we break down exactly how to initiate the romantic process with a crush you may not know, and how to overcome rejection if your approach fails. We then dive into some listener feedback for those who have been brave enough to write in with questions on the subject. Tune in to discover how to break the ice in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Many people speak about trauma, but few truly understand it. It is conceptually complex and it bleeds through all aspects of a person's life. It hinders emotional expression, connection, and selection when it comes to discerning who is safe and who is not. And this remains true as survivors of trauma begin to date in hopes of finding true love. Trauma is an impediment to healthy intimate connection, and it can make a person feel hopeless in the pursuit for lasting intimacy in the end. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we thoroughly define trauma, and explore how trauma impacts emotional development, relationship formation, and habits of partner selection. We then dive into addressing how survivors of trauma can begin to fight back against this phenomenon. Tune in to discover how to overcome trauma in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Since the beginning of time, there has always been pressure to form companionship. Whether it be for safety, security, company, or surety...humans have always been driven to connect with others. This has not changed in the modern era. However, due to the perception of many options in the ever-shrinking dating pool, many people have drifted away from dating for the emotional and interpersonal connection needed for survival, and have instead begun selecting their mates along shallow lines of social, aesthetic, and/or financial status. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we explore how this harms your ability to find true love, before addressing some skills that will help safeguard against this phenomenon. Tune in to discover how to date for the right reasons in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Finding true love is hard enough as it is, and doing so as a single parent adds another layer of difficulty to consider when seeking the person you are meant to be with. That being said, single parents deserve to find love just as much as the next person, and this episode will help make that journey a little easier. In this edition of the DNA of Love, we explore best practices in dating while raising one or many children, in addition to tackling how to focus on finding love without devaluing the needs of your children at the same time. Tune in to discover how to build a healthy foundation in your love life while prioritizing the family you have always desired in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

In the modern dating environment, it is nearly impossible to avoid the allure of online dating. The idea of having a resource that exponentially increases your chances at finding true love (or whatever other romantic pursuits you desire), almost seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, the advent of online dating has not been a 'cure-all' for loneliness and heartbreak. In fact, some would argue that it may have even directly contributed to more instances of failed romantic endeavors over the past decade or so. So where does that leave us, as we continue to seek love? I argue that it leaves us with a beautiful opportunity to begin to learn how to effectively use the tool of online dating as such; a useful tool that can build a foundation worth standing on if utilized skillfully. Tune in to learn just how to masterfully use the tool of online dating, so that you may capitalize on modern dating technology in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Valentine's Day can be one of the more stressful holiday experiences for many in relationships, as you toil over finding the perfect gift or experience for you and your partner. No one wants to select the wrong gift, or convey the wrong message with some poorly choreographed grand gesture of pronounced love for your significant other. Yet no matter how pure your intentions may be, the pressure may still feel rather intense as the fourteenth of February falls upon us. But the question still remains, how does one select a meaningful gift? How do we effectively show the love we feel during a consumer holiday that is largely made up in the first place? If these questions have entered your headspace at any point in the past or present, this episode may be just for you. Tune in to learn how to navigate cupid's holiday for both, couples and singles alike,  effectively surviving Valentine's Day once more in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

As we are find ourselves well into the holidays, many of us will be exchanging gifts over this winter season. Giving gifts to the people we love can often be a stressful experience, however, receiving gifts can be difficult as well depending on the person and context. What if someone takes a gift the wrong way? What if you're giving a gift to someone as a friend, and they take it as something more romantic? Or what if you are afraid to give a gift to someone you're dating, because of what it may mean to the relationship (i.e., making things more serious than not). These are all real and valid questions, and they are absolutely topics for consideration before we open our hearts, and our wallets.  This episode breaks down how to effectively decide on the right gift for the right person, in addition to exploring how to receive gifts in a way that shows appreciation over entitlement. Tune in to find out how to give the gift of love with both presents and presence in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Many of us date just to date. Solely because it feels better than being alone. Sometimes the relationships we are in aren't even good relationships. But a relationship  sometimes feels better than no relationship. Unfortunately, this is not sustainable, and these shallow relationships often fail because they are without true purpose. Healthy and long lasting relationships exist with purpose, both for the individuals, and for the couple as a whole. If we are with someone, we need to have a clear understanding as to why  we've chosen that particular person, and what we are hoping to get out of the relationship. If these two boxes are not checked, we have no way of knowing if the relationship is even going the way we originally wanted it to go. This episode breaks down how to effectively identify and define one's purpose within the relationship, as well as the overall purpose you want the relationship to serve in your life when it's all said and done. Tune in to find out how to ensure your love has meaning in this installment of the DNA of Love with Dr. Williams.

Love can feel like it's forged in fire...built on a flame that burns with passion when you've fallen for someone. But what happens when we begin to feel like that flame is going out? How do we stoke the embers to ensure our fire stays lit? Well first, we assess whether that fire should be burning in the first place. Sometimes we are just not meant to be, and a dwindling flame can be a clear indicator that warmth is gone in the relationship...and maybe, it's time to burn your torch elsewhere. Other times, however, life circumstances have crept in, dousing your flame with the many raindrops of life. Raindrops can come in many forms; such as  financial struggles, career demands, stress of building a family/raising children, intimacy concerns, etc. No matter how big or small the raindrops may be, they combine to dim your flame over time, and will completely put the fire of your relationship out if you let it. But there are ways to safeguard your love, keeping your fire burning brightly throughout the many storms of our lives. This episode breaks down how to cultivate the romantic spark that lit your relationship in the beginning; while offering methods to maintain and build on that fire over time. Tune in to find out how to keep your love hot and your flame ablaze in this installment of the DNA of Love.

Humans have been searching for the key to finding and maintaining successful monogamous relationships for centuries. This makes sense, given the tremendous amount of effort we put into finding the loves of our lives. It is only natural that we would want such relationships to "make it" in the end. However, "making it" often entails remaining faithful, which is something that is easier said than done for most. Many of us have or will be unfaithful, in some capacity, within our lifetimes. It is only human to be imperfect, and you're not a "bad person" for making this mistake (or being on the receiving end of it either). Relationships are hard, and fidelity is a skill to be developed and practiced as we grow together. This episode breaks down how to develop this skill effectively, sharpening it over time as you become better at being faithful throughout the life of your union. Tune in to find out how to cheat less and love more as we cultivate stronger bonds with the people who matter to us most.

Finding "the one" is hard, and it is made even more difficult when you realize that the person you're with, isn't that special person. Break-ups are incredibly tough, but what's even more exhausting, is the immediate life after the break-up. The life that involves the arduous task of once again, initiating the search for the love of your life. This journey was hard enough the first time, and no one really wants to run it back in life, especially after a hefty romantic swing and a miss. But don't fret, you are not alone, and if you're ready to get back in the game, we may have something for you. This episode breaks down the many steps along the dating path, as we "get back in the romance game," while offering some useful tips and tricks to help you put the pieces of your love life back together over time. Tune in to find out how to bring your heart out of retirement, as you chase long lasting love once again.

Finding the right person can feel as hard as looking for a needle in a haystack. We dig and dig and dig, and just when we think we've found love, that needle pokes us, leaving a lasting wound where hope used to be. This can leave us feeling exhausted and jaded with dating altogether, often leading to settling, sometimes out of pure loneliness. It doesn't have to be this way though. Finding and selecting the right partner is a skill, and it can be developed over time if your mind and motivation is where it needs to be. This episode expands on how this skill can be cultivated with practice, as we highlight the longterm relational benefits of dedicating time to selecting the right person for you. Tune in to find out where you may be going wrong in your journey, as you search for the person you're meant to be with. 

Societal pressure to find love seems to be at an all-time high in modern contemporary culture. As the seasons go on, we begin to see specific times of the year where said pressure to be in a relationship grows to unbearable proportions for many single adults. When this happens, we see many relationships begin, when they truly should not, as people begin to link up due to fear of being alone. This episode explores this phenomenon of "seasonal love," as we highlight the pitfalls of dating in this manner, while reinforcing steps we can take to avoid this love trap. Tune in to find out what to look out for, as we approach another season of love.

As we strive to pursue love, it is inevitable that we will encounter rejection in many ways. Sometimes we will be on the delivering end of it, and other times receiving said rejection from others. In either circumstance, it can be quite the brutal experience. But luckily, it does not always have to be, if we take the right steps along the way. This episode will help to address how to navigate rejection, as we learn to receive it with grace, humility, and a sense of humor; while also developing the skill of delivering rejection with firm kindness and respect. Listen and discuss. 

Break ups are an inevitable reality, as we chase a life with the people we're meant to be with. There are times where our hearts are in the right place, but we just are not compatible in all the ways that matter. With that comes the unfortunate experience of the break up. Whether you are doing the breaking up, or being broken up with, it always seems to hurt just the same. This episode will help to address how to navigate said break ups, as we look to make it through the storm of our past relationships. Listen and discuss. 

Insecurity is defined as uncertainty or anxiety about oneself, brought upon by an inherent deficit in confidence. In relationships, this brand of limited confidence can stifle intimate growth, and lead to outright conflict if not managed effectively. This episode will help to address how to navigate insecurity, in a way that bolsters individual confidence, while reinforcing the foundation of your relationship at the same time. Listen and discuss.