How many of us sometimes wonder why we have to suffer in our
relationships? As a married man with four children and over 15years in marriage I can affirm that most married men and women often wonder this very
question. They wonder if they can ever avoid difficulties in their
relationship and feel better with the person they love.
Here are three ways you can decrease your suffering and increase your happiness.
1. Disagreements are Normal – Get out of
your head that a perfect relationship means that you and your mate never
fight. This is a fallacy. Every relationship has miscommunication,
disagreements, challenges, worries and two individuals who see things
differently. These common relationship elements do not indicate there is
something wrong. They are an invitation for you and your mate to figure
out how to navigate them, and it’s important to do so. That’s what
defines a healthy relationship; navigating difficulty as it comes up, not eliminating it.
2. Accept That You and Your Partner Are Different
– This means that when there are disagreements and difficulties, know
that you are right! And so is your mate! You both have a point of view.
Some relationships are defined by one person coming out on top and being
the “winner”. Other relationships are characterized by two people
turning away from each other as if there is a stalemate and no one wins.
A healthy couple knows that each person has a right to his or her
opinion. That does not mean you agree 100 percent with your mate, it
just means that you respect the right of your partner to think the way
they do. Just changing this one element in your relationship can go a
long way to stop the bleeding.
3. Stop Criticizing – Sometimes in a
relationship when a person wants the partner to change they will
criticize them. If you point out what you don’t like about your mate you
often get the other person’s attention, but you may not get the
response you desire. Most of the time when someone complains or
criticizes, they are trying to get something different from their
partner. Unfortunately when humans are criticized if feels as if we have
been attacked and blamed for something. Think back when you were a
child. If someone criticized you what was your response? You probably
disagreed with them telling them it wasn’t true. You defended yourself.
That is a natural and very human response. So criticism doesn’t work.
Try telling your partner what you would like. Every person who loves
another will move mountains to help their partner get what they like. It
works.
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