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communication Archives - SYMBIS Assessment

May 28
Love0
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How Can I Help My Spouse If They Won’t Open Up?

By Communication No Comments

Does your spouse withdraw when you’re going through a tough time? Seasons of grief, loss, and waiting are difficult for everyone. But we each survive those seasons in different ways. Maybe your spouse self-isolates during times like this, but you crave deep connection. How can you persuade them to open up to you? You want to join with your spouse’s spirit and get through this together. You’re eager to walk alongside them and share their grief, but they’re so private about their feelings, and it’s confusing and hurtful. Why won’t they just talk to you about how they’re feeling and…

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Apr 30
Love0
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How Much Alone Time Is Healthy In Our Marriage?

By Intimacy, Time No Comments

How much alone time is healthy in a marriage? Is it possible to spend too much time alone? If so, what does that mean for your relationship? Being alone, as well as together, can be healthy for your individual wellbeing. When we’re healthy individuals, we bring that wellness into our marriage. Yet there’s often a misconception that spending time alone is unhealthy. That’s not always true. Every marriage experiences different seasons, ebbs, and flows. Spending time alone doesn’t necessarily mean your marriage is unhealthy. Rather, it’s up to you and your spouse to agree on how much alone time works…

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Mar 12
Love0
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Help! My Spouse Needs Tough Love, But I Don’t Want To Hurt Them

By Communication 2 Comments

Does your spouse need tough love? Giving your spouse constructive criticism, addressing a problematic habit, or asking them to correct an upsetting behavior can be scary. You love this person more than anyone else in the world. How are you supposed to point out something you’re unhappy about? You want to speak the truth in love, but you find yourself avoiding a direct conversation. Instead, you dance around the topic. Even worse, maybe you bury it, hoping it will go away on its own. Rather than avoiding tough conversations, it’s important to put them on the table sooner rather than…

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Jan 22
Love1
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Help! My Spouse Made a Big Decision Without Asking My Opinion

By Marriage One Comment

So your spouse made a big decision without consulting you. What should you do? Maybe it was time to purchase a new vehicle or piece of furniture. Or perhaps your spouse spent money you hadn’t discussed together beforehand. Regardless of the situation, you feel left out and hurt–and you wish they had spoken with you before they made the decision. It’s normal to feel upset when your spouse makes a significant decision without you. One of the most important things we have in marriage is the ability to be included in each other’s lives. When we feel excluded or as…

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Mar 20
Love1
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Better Communication, Better Love: Saying “I Love You” Without Words

By Communication, Intimacy One Comment

When it comes to communication in marriage, nonverbal communication is just as important as the words you say to one another. In some cases, nonverbal communication might even say more! The old adage is, “Actions speak louder than words,” for a reason. The words we say make up only a small percentage of what our spouse believes we’re saying to them. Developing great nonverbal communication skills is critical for showing love to your spouse in a way they can understand. Bare-minimum human decency won’t cut it here; you must be intentional with your nonverbals. So what are some ways you…

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Mar 13
Love0
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Better Communication, Better Love: Speaking the Truth in Love

By Communication No Comments

When emotions are running high, it can be challenging to communicate with your spouse in a calm way. Sometimes, it can even feel difficult to speak lovingly. We’re at a higher risk of being harsh with one another when we’re angry, upset, or trying to make a point. Last week, we kicked off our Better Communication, Better Love article series by talking about becoming a better listener. But listening well is just one part of the equation. We must also be able to speak the truth in love at all times, especially when we’re resolving a conflict. You and your…

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Mar 06
Love0

Better Communication, Better Love: Sharpening Your Listening Skills

By Communication No Comments

Did you know that better communication can lead you and your spouse to better love? In this four-article series, we’re breaking down some of the most important ways you two can improve your communication skills. We’ll start by talking about how to sharpen your listening skills – a must in every successful marriage. You’ve likely heard that, to be a better listener, you should: Listen to respond, not to react. Avoid interrupting your spouse while they’re speaking. Try not to spend so much energy formulating a response that you miss what they’re saying. Engage in active listening, in which you…

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Aug 30
Love0

3 Ways Your Decision-Making Style Affects Your Marriage

By Marriage No Comments

Every person approaches decision making in a different way. Some of us are cautious and methodical, while others are more spontaneous. These decision-making styles can have a profound effect on our marriage and every aspect of our lives. You’re either a spontaneous or cautious decision maker. What about your spouse? There are benefits and drawbacks to having similar decision-making styles. Likewise, conflicting styles have their pros and cons. The Potential Consequences of Your Decision-Making Style How could your decision-making style affect your marriage? Here are a few major impacts to consider. For better or worse, it’s worth thinking through potential…

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Aug 09
Love0

Emotional Needs in Marriage: What’s Most Important?

By Marriage No Comments

Everyone has emotional needs. For each of us, those come down to a few top needs that are most important to us. With those emotional needs unmet, it’s difficult for us to walk in our spouse’s shoes. Because emotional needs are highly important, which ones should you prioritize first? Which emotional needs are the most important–yours or your spouse’s? That answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. You can do a few things to determine which needs to meet first in any given situation. Want to know more? Let’s jump right into it. Know Your Own Top Emotional Needs It isn’t easy to articulate…

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Jul 12
Love0
How to Get Your Marriage Out of a Rut

How to Get Your Marriage Out of a Rut

By Marriage One Comment

Is your marriage in a rut? It’s common for married couples to go through seasons where they feel out of sync with each other. Once you’ve found yourself in this place, it can be too easy to assume that you’re going to stay stuck. Luckily, there’s hope for getting back into a happier, healthier relationship. Stop Making Future Assumptions The first important thing to do when you’re stuck in a rut is to stop making assumptions about the future. Just because you feel this way now doesn’t mean you will forever. Whatever patterns of behavior or conflict you’ve found yourselves…

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