Category

Communication

Jun 29
Love0

Listening 101: Tips to Help You Better Hear Your Spouse

By Communication One Comment

A common theme in marital conflict is the idea that one or both spouses don’t feel heard. Has your spouse ever told you that you’re not hearing them? If so, there are some things you can do to help them know that you’re listening–or that you’re working to understand where they’re coming from. It’s frustrating to hear that your spouse feels unheard or misunderstood, especially if you’re doing your best from one day to the next. However, it’s possible for effective communication to break down before either of you realize what has happened. The good news is, it’s possible to…

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Jun 22
Love0
My spouse doesn't hear me

Help! My Spouse Doesn’t Hear Me. What Can I Do?

By Communication No Comments

Do you feel unheard, unseen or misunderstood by your spouse? If this sounds familiar to you, keep reading. It’s common for people to feel as though their spouses don’t fully understand where they’re coming from–or even hear what they’re trying to say at all. The good news is, you’re not alone. Even better, it’s possible to solve this problem. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about some ways to help you reconnect with your spouse and rekindle the intimacy you’re missing. Step 1. Tell Your Spouse How You’re Feeling If you haven’t already tried to broach the subject with…

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Jun 15
Love0
Couple with strong communication

5 Important Ingredients for Stronger Communication in Marriage

By Communication 2 Comments

Communication is key to a successful marriage. This likely isn’t a surprise, but it bears repeating. You and your spouse may share a life together, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re communicating effectively. Issues with communication often translate into other problems, such as a loss of intimacy. Many couples have stronger communication in the early days of their relationships, through dating and the honeymoon period. But ongoing, strong communication requires a consistent effort from both spouses, through all seasons of life. Being able to talk to and understand one another is one of the primary components of intimacy. If…

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Oct 20
Love0

Does Keeping Secrets Make A Marriage Unhealthy?

By Communication, Conflict 6 Comments

Does keeping secrets in marriage make it inherently unhealthy? Over our years of marriage, and our years counseling married and engaged couples, we’ve found the answer to be both nuanced and subjective. The truth is, the idea that a couple should never keep secrets sounds and feels good at the surface level–but can a marriage really handle an overflow of transparency at all times? Many of us grew up believing that there are no secrets in a healthy marriage. We come to believe that spouses should tell one another everything, no matter what–hiding no details and laying everything out in…

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Sep 01
Love1

How to Level Up the Communication in Your Marriage

By Communication 2 Comments

Communication is paramount in any relationship, but especially in marriage. If you’re striving for lifelong love with your spouse, then the two of you will have to master the art of effective communication. You can come out on the other side of almost any marital problem if you have mastered the skills for effective communication. While we communicate at different levels, it’s most important to communicate from the standpoint of protecting and nurturing one another’s feelings. If you’re ready to level up your communication with your spouse, read on. Create a sense of emotional safety. Emotional safety is critical for…

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Aug 18
Love0

3 Hallmarks of Poor Communication Every Couple Needs to Know

By Communication One Comment

Communication is a multifaceted exchange that can be challenging to master, even in the best of relationships. Married couples must work especially hard to ensure they’re communicating clearly and effectively for the best possible outcomes. Becoming good communicators takes teamwork and patience, and the process isn’t always linear. It can take months or even years, depending on the couple. We know many of the hallmarks of good communication, such as active listening, empathy, and offering feedback to ensure we understand one another. But what about the features of poor communication? Today, we’re covering three major hallmarks of poor communication every…

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May 05
Love2

Help! We Need to Raise Our Income

By Careers, Communication, Marriage, Relationships 2 Comments

There are many reasons why you and your spouse might want to raise your income. Maybe you’ve recently taken on a new expense, suffered a pay cut or job loss, or you need to save toward a big goal, such as a vacation or a down payment on a house. Whatever the case, you’ve determined that you need more available money. Luckily, there are a number of ways to free up extra money and raise the amount you’re bringing in. It takes teamwork and shared goals, but the two of you can absolutely work together to make more money for…

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Apr 28
Love1

5 Affirmations to Empower Your Spouse

By Communication, Intimacy, Marriage, Relationships 3 Comments

Gifting one another with regular affirmations is a wonderful way for spouses to stay close and remind each other of their affection. If you’re not regularly making an effort to affirm your spouse, then it’s time to start now–and it’s never too late. Affirmations can be simple. The key is to be heartfelt and genuine, and to let your spouse know how much you love and admire them. How well you love your spouse, and the effort you invest in them, will make a tremendous impact on the quality of your marriage. Today, we’ve gathered five simple affirmations to help…

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Apr 21
Love0

5 Skills to Improve Communication With Your Spouse

By Communication, Marriage 10 Comments

Communication breakdowns are a common issue in many marriages. Some couples struggle with communication more than others do, and this can be due to differences in personality and communication style. However, working to establish clear and effective communication is key to enjoying a happy marriage in the long term. In order to improve communication in your marriage, there are five realms of communication you must each work to strengthen. Let’s jump right in. 1. Information sharing Sharing information involves the ability to clearly and accurately state your thoughts and feelings without losing yourself in emotion or getting off track. Being…

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Apr 07
Love1

How Expectations and Magical Thinking Affect Your Spouse

By Communication, Marriage, Relationships 2 Comments

In every marriage, each spouse has their own set of expectations, either spoken or unspoken. These could be regarding the relationship itself, or expectations for one another as individuals. Either way, what we expect of one another can inform much of our relationship, for better or worse. If you and your spouse have experienced conflict over your expectations for one another, you aren’t alone. Expectations go hand-in-hand with something we call magical thinking. In other words, that means making assumptions about one another, rather than seeking the truth from our spouse. Expectations and magical thinking can impact your spouse in…

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