Episode #605 Valentine's Day Edition - Learning How to Love Well — Mark A. Hicks
“Love isn’t something you fall into. It’s something you learn, practice, and recommit to every day.”
Mark A. Hicks
Psychotherapist, Author of Learning Love
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This Valentine’s special explores how love grows through intention, healing, and everyday practices that sustain lasting relationships.
Episode Summary
In this Valentine’s Day conversation, Audley sits down with Mark A. Hicks to unpack what love really requires beyond romance and grand gestures. Mark breaks down the five core components of love and explains why long-term relationships succeed or struggle based on how well those components are practiced.
Together, they explore why passion fades, how grief quietly shapes relationships, and why self-love is the true foundation of healthy connection. This episode challenges the myth that love should come naturally and instead reframes love as a skill worth learning, especially for couples navigating real life, not fairy tales.
Key Takeaways
Love is a learned skill, not a feeling you magically sustain
Healing unresolved grief is essential for healthy relationships
Passion must be practiced intentionally, not assumed
Loving yourself expands your capacity to love others well
Guest Bio
Mark A. Hicks is a psychotherapist, speaker, and author dedicated to helping people build emotionally healthy relationships. Through decades of counseling experience and his book Learning Love, Mark teaches that love thrives when people commit to growth, healing, and intentional connection. His work focuses on mental health education, relational resilience, and practical tools for sustaining love in families, workplaces, and partnerships.
Additional Resources
Title: "Why Audacity Matters in Relationships”
A deeper look at how bold honesty, boundaries, and emotional courage strengthen long-term love.
Special Offers
📘 Learning Love by Mark A. Hicks
Personal Insights
This conversation reminded me that love isn’t about perfection. It’s about practice. Especially around Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to focus on grand gestures and forget that everyday presence, laughter, and effort are what truly sustain relationships.
Best Point of Contact for Listeners
🌐 Website: Learning Love Foundation
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Relevant Hashtags
#AudaciousLivingPodcast #ValentinesSpecial #LearningLove #RelationshipsThatLast #EmotionalHealth #IntentionalLove #PersonalGrowth
