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5 Things to Consider Before Venting About Your Spouse

The Complexities of Forgiveness

By Conflict10 Comments

I forgive you. Is forgiveness as simple as saying those three words? Occasionally, it might be. Other times, it’s much more complicated.

The truth is, forgiveness is a crucial part of a lifelong marriage. You will inevitably experience and inflict hurts in your marriage. Without forgiveness, however, your relationship can become brittle and bogged down by the anger and resentment of those past wounds. Learning to embrace the various aspects of forgiveness opens you up to the possibility of peace, growth, and even a stronger marriage.

While the benefits of forgiveness seem straightforward enough, forgiveness itself can actually be quite complex. Let’s explore some of the reasons why. Read More

January 31, 2024
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Happy Couple Hugging

Learn These Things About Yourself to Become a Better Spouse

By Connection, Relationship Basics5 Comments

It’s often said that in order to love someone else, you need to love yourself first. You might think just involves having a healthy sense of self-worth and generally liking yourself as a person, and that is part of it for sure. But truly loving yourself goes deeper than this. It involves really understanding who you are – the good, the bad, and everything in between. And although it’s somewhat counterintuitive, looking inward can actually improve your marriage. It’s true! Here are three key areas in which learning more about yourself can make you a better spouse. Read More

December 20, 2023
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The Power of a Do-Over

The Power of a Do-Over

By Conflict, Parenting6 Comments

In a lot of circumstances, you only get one shot. Heck, life itself is a perfect example (YOLO!) It can create a lot of pressure to get things right the first time. But no one is perfect, and when we fail, it can be a tough pill to swallow. When it’s possible and appropriate, a second chance can be just what we need to turn an ordinary or negative situation into something more. Let’s explore the power of a do-over in the context of marriage. Read More

October 11, 2023
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Why Parenting Disagreements Test Your Relationship

Why Parenting Disagreements Can Test Your Relationship

By Conflict, Parenting5 Comments

Having children is often considered one of the most rewarding parts of marriage. While that may be true, it can also be one of the most challenging, testing your relationship with your spouse in ways you’ve never experienced before. Raising children isn’t easy, even if you were to agree on every aspect of it. So when you disagree, it can feel like a wedge between you. Why do parenting disagreements tend to carry such weight? And what are some tips to turn those disagreements into opportunities to come out stronger? Let’s take a look. Read More

September 27, 2023
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Showing Love When You’re Not Really Feeling It

By Conflict, Connection6 Comments
Real talk. You love your spouse. But sometimes, you don’t really feel all that loving. Maybe you are angry with them or are still processing emotions around a conflict. Perhaps you’re emotionally flooded or you’ve had a horrible day and just need some space. Whatever the case, it’s normal to not feel loving and affectionate toward your spouse 100% of the time. However, constantly taking your anger, frustration, or other difficult emotions out on them (even when they might be the cause), will take a toll on your relationship.

Fortunately, there are ways to let your spouse know your love for them hasn’t wavered – that you’re still “with” them and committed to your marriage even if you’re not feeling especially warm towards them at the moment. These small things provide reassurance that you will reconnect, even if it’s not immediately. Let’s explore. Read More

September 13, 2023
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5 Things That Undermine an Apology

By Conflict15 Comments

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a bad apology? How did it make you feel? Even if you couldn’t articulate exactly what what was off about it, you might have walked away feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, or even more hurt or angry than you were initially. Have you been on the other side of this situation? You tried to apologize to your spouse, but it was not received well. Maybe you felt like you were doing all the right things, but it’s not coming across the way you’d like. What went wrong?

The fact of the matter is, a meaningful apology is more than just uttering the words, “I’m sorry.” Here are five things that can undermine an apology. Read More

September 6, 2023
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The Do's & Dont's of Disappointment

The Do’s and Don’ts of Disappointment

By Conflict8 Comments

Disappointment is pretty much a part of life. Maybe you’re disappointed in a movie you had high hopes for or in the way your homemade cheesecake turned out. You might feel displeased for a short period of time, but it’s nothing you’ll lose sleep over. Other times, disappointment can run deeper, such as when someone you love – like your spouse – lets you down in a way that feels significant and personal. In these situations, you may not get over it so quickly. So what should you do? Read More

June 28, 2023
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Getting Aligned When You Disagree

Getting Aligned When You Disagree

By Conflict2 Comments

Is there an issue that you and your spouse seem to perpetually disagree on?

If it’s a minor, superficial thing – how to correctly load the dishwasher or whether the toilet paper should go over or under – it’s probably no big deal. You might have a good-natured debate about it or tease each other about doing it wrong. At the end of the day, no one is losing sleep over it.

But what happens when you simply can’t reach agreement on a bigger issue, one that has a significant impact on your marriage and family? While you might try avoiding the topic, more than likely you’ll need to face it. And if you’ve never been able to see eye to eye on it, that can feel daunting, frustrating, and disheartening. You might find yourself wondering, “Where do we go from here? Will we always fight about this? Is it going to damage our relationship?”

Luckily, there are ways to break this stalemate and begin working toward a resolution together. The key is working toward alignment – not total agreement. Unsure how to start moving in that direction? Here are some tips. Read More

May 3, 2023
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6 Peacekeepings Tips for Annoying Habits

6 Peacekeeping Tips for Annoying Habits

By Conflict, Relationship Dynamics6 Comments

Do you always have to leave the cabinet doors open? You’re hogging all the covers again! Shhh, can you just watch the movie instead of asking a million questions? Oh my gosh, you are so indecisive!

If you and your spouse don’t have habits that annoy each other, are you even married? Just kidding… kind of. The truth is, while the habits can vary greatly, the irritation can get real. Sometimes we could all use some extra help in handling them in positive ways. Here are six peacekeeping tips for dealing with those annoying habits. Read More

April 12, 2023
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3 Mindset Shifts to Make Before Your Next Fight

3 Mindset Shifts to Make Before Your Next Fight

By Conflict8 Comments

It’s easy to have idyllic ideas about how you’ll handle conflict with your partner…when you’re not in the middle of it. Throw in a triggering comment and rising emotions, and suddenly all your best intentions seem to go right out the window. Before you know it, you’re stewing in anger and dwelling on the wrong things. Instead of working on repairing your connection, you’re doing the exact opposite and freezing each other out.

Suddenly trying to change the way you approach conflict with your spouse in the heat of the moment is a challenge for many reasons. That’s why it can be beneficial to reflect on the changes you’d like to make ahead of time – when you’re not in the midst of an argument. Does it mean you’ll be perfect in the moment? Probably not. But it can help you course-correct more quickly, setting the stage for more productive discussion and resolution.

Here are three mindset shifts to make before your next fight. Read More

April 5, 2023
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