Shared Goal Pursuit! Newsletter - Week 6
Welcome back to our weekly newsletter! This week we're exploring the powerful science of shared goal pursuit and how learning together can transform your relationship.
This Week's Tale for Two
Taking a class or learning a new skill with your partner activates shared goal pursuit, a key ingredient in long-term satisfaction. It boosts trust, teamwork, and the feeling of growing together. Even better? When the skill is creative or hands-on, it releases dopamine (the feel-good chemical) and builds positive memories.
ā Aron et al., 2000 ā Self-Expansion Model in Relationships
This research reveals something beautiful about how couples grow together. When you're both working toward the same goal - whether it's mastering a pottery wheel, learning to cook a new cuisine, or figuring out how to make candles - you're not just learning a skill. You're building a shared identity, creating inside jokes about your mistakes, and celebrating victories together. The dopamine release from creative activities makes these memories stick, turning learning sessions into relationship gold.
Your Next Date Idea
Find a local class or drop-in workshop (pottery, cooking, collage, candle-making). Anything where your hands get a little messy and your brains get to play!
This activity perfectly captures the power of shared goal pursuit:
- Common objective - you're both working toward the same creative outcome
- Mutual support - helping each other through the learning process
- Shared vulnerability - everyone's a beginner together
- Tangible memories - you'll have something physical to remember the experience
Pro tip: Choose something neither of you has done before! The shared learning curve creates the perfect environment for bonding, laughter, and mutual encouragement.
Personal Note
Big milestone this week: our second prototypes arrived! š We've officially started playtesting Tales for Two with real couples, and it's both exciting and mildly terrifying in the best way.
There's something surreal about watching other people hold the cards we've been dreaming about for so long. Seeing couples laugh at the prompts, debate which adventure to choose first, and then actually head out to create memories together - it's everything we hoped for and more. The feedback has been incredible, and we're learning so much about how the game works in the wild. Every playtest session feels like a little validation that we're onto something special.
Card of the Week
This week's featured card is "Sweet Start" ā a card that invites couples to flip the script and start with dessert, then follow up with something savory. It's the perfect example of how small rule-breaking can make an ordinary meal feel like an adventure and create those positive, dopamine-rich memories together.
Snapshot of the Week
Tag us on Instagram @talesfortwogame or send us an email with your photos to get featured in next week's newsletter! We love seeing couples out there creating their own adventures and sharing those moments of discovery.
This week's snapshot shows our beautiful second prototype boxes - stacks of actual Tales for Two games ready to go out into the world and create magic for couples everywhere!
Join the Adventure
If you're not already on our mailing list, to get these weekly doses of inspiration, science-backed relationship tips, and date ideas delivered straight to your inbox.
Until next week, keep pursuing goals together!
With love and adventure,
ā The Tales for Two Team
P.S. What's the most fun thing you and your partner have learned together? We'd love to hear about your shared goal adventures - from cooking disasters to pottery masterpieces!
