Click here to listen to Episode 151 of the Minutes on Growth Podcast on Spotify, on Apple Podcast, or to watch it on Youtube

Hi soul friends, it’s Tannaz Hosseinpour, and welcome back to another solo episode of the Minutes on Growth podcast.

Today’s episode is a heartful reflection on a word we don’t often hear in modern conversations about relationships: devotion.

So the other night, we were at a wedding, and one of our friends turned to Ash and said, “You’re so whipped.” And then, looking at me, added, “You too. You’re both whipped.”

Now he meant it in a joking way, but it sparked a really interesting conversation.

Because what does that even mean?
Why is mutual respect or taking each other into consideration so quickly labeled as being “whipped”?
Why is sensitivity to our partner’s needs framed as weakness?

See, anytime one of us is invited somewhere or asked to make a decision, we always say, “Let me check with [Ash/my partner] first.” And it’s never about seeking permission—it’s about mutuality, partnership, and consideration. But instead of naming that for what it is—love in action—we reduce it to slang that subtly shames emotional presence.

And so I looked at him and said, “That’s interesting that you’d use the word whipped. I’d actually call it devoted.”

Because to me, devotion isn’t submission.
It’s not about giving up your power—it’s about using your power consciously for the growth of the relationship.

A few days later, I was having this exact conversation with a girlfriend, and I said something I truly believe with every part of me:
Devotion is one of the most important ingredients in a thriving, long-term relationship.

For me, devotion looks like this:

Walking up every morning to the same prayer:  Dear Universe, help me earn the light of this relationship today.
Help me show up not just for myself, but for the “us.” For the vision. For the sacred third space that exists between us.

And that devotion? It’s active.
It means being willing to learn how to fight better.
To communicate more clearly.
To repair faster.
To soften instead of shut down.
To sit with my triggers and understand how they shape my reactions.
To see his wounds and trauma, and not weaponize them—but rather, hold them with tenderness.

It’s not always easy.
But devotion is never passive.

Just like in couples therapy, I often say to my clients, “The relationship is my client—not either of you.”
And that’s the mindset I bring to my own partnership.
The “us.” The “we-ness.” That’s who I’m showing up for.

Because love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice.
And devotion is the daily choice to keep showing up for that practice.

It’s what creates interdependence instead of codependence or hyper-independence.
It allows us to bring our unique strengths to the table and humbly acknowledge our growth edges.

And like a plant, the relationship needs tending.
Sunlight. Water. Encouragement.
We can’t take it for granted.

Devotion is noticing when your partner feels unseen and doing something about it.
It’s saying “thank you” often.
It’s celebrating even the small wins.
It’s knowing when to pause and repair.
It’s deep appreciation without performance.

And honestly, devotion isn’t just romantic—it’s spiritual.
It requires discipline, presence, humility, and service.
It’s what the Gottmans refer to as building emotional trust—through consistent bids for connection, turning toward, and repairing well after rupture.

So no—being “whipped” isn’t what this is.
This is conscious love.
It’s intentionality.
It’s two people choosing each other, not just in romance, but in responsibility to what they’re co-creating.

So today, I invite you to reflect:

• What does devotion look like in your relationships?
• Where can you be more present?
• Where can you soften into mutuality?
• How would it feel to replace the language of shame with the language of care?

Because devotion isn’t something to mock—it’s something to aspire to.

And if this is the kind of love you’re cultivating or calling in, then you’ll love our upcoming Tuscany Retreat: Self-Worth, Self-Care, Sisterhood.
We’re diving deep into relationship dynamics—how to show up as your authentic self, how to cultivate secure love, and how to create intimacy that’s both soft and strong.

We have 2 spaces left, and I’d be honored to witness you in that sacred container.

Until next time, may you show up with devotion. To your healing. To your truth. To your love.
Because love—real love—starts with intention.