3 Key Things That Will Make or Break Your Marriage
The trade-off goes very well when you remember three key things.
1. Know your partner
The foundation for effective compromise, especially in decisive moments, is laid long before the moment begins.
Knowing your partner’s inner world – knowing every corner of their heart, their desires, dislikes, dreams and fears – can help you understand what motivates their point of view.
2. Focus on what you both want
If you can identify the dream or goal you share in a given situation, it can take the pressure off the details and enhance the entire conversation.
3. Pay attention and respond
In a relationship, the important thing is how they pay attention to each other, no matter what they are talking about or doing.
When you respond positively to your partner’s attempts to connect – for example, by putting your phone away during dinner and starting a conversation, or by asking what’s wrong when they let out a heavy sigh – you’re saying, “I’m interested in you. I understand you. I’d like to help you. I’d like to be with you.”
Their attention creates a secure, loving relationship where their partner feels heard and understood. Pay attention to your partner’s small gestures that reach out and try to connect with you; by intentionally looking for ways to turn to your partner, you will be more effective in connecting with them.
