March 17, 2023
top trending topics
šøš Have fun & put some spring into your marriage with these fun date ideas.
š£ļø Use these tools to improve communication with your spouse.
ā It’s important top have a marriage check-in every once in a while– Start here.
āš Your conversations don’t have to be just okay, ask each other these questions for a little change.
š If your in-laws just might be the cause of your marriage problems… There’s hope!
tips & tricks for growth
you can agree to disagree
Ever had the same old fight over and over? Do you wonder why, or what in the world you can do about it? Well, thereās good news and bad news. The good news is, disagreeing with your spouse is normal. The bad news? According to Dr. John Gottmanās research, 69% of problems in relationships are perpetual or unsolvable. Couples will return to these issues over and over again in their relationship. These are often grounded in fundamental differences between two people: differences in personalities, needs, or expectations.
So, what do we do if all our problems canāt be solved like the fairy tales taught us? Gottman suggests creating a dialogue around them instead of attempting to solve them.
š«µ Sometimes, disagreements can bring a couple closer together. The key is how you and your spouse handle it when you disagree. Successful couples learn and grow together through difficult times.
i’m gonna have to stop you there…
Picture this: Youāre having an EXHAUSTING conversation with extended family. There seems to be no easy or natural escape route, but youāve got to get away for your own sanity. You know that stopping the conversation can hurt the relationship. What do you do?
You may want to stop the conversation for several reasons:
- The topic is too controversial, and itās not worth potentially fracturing the relationship. (Religion, politics, social justice, morality, parenting, etc.)
- Itās gotten too personal. (Unresolved issues, things you donāt want to share, topics you disagree on regarding how you live your life, and so on.)
- Itās simply time to move on. You have other commitments or people to talk to.
- The conversation feels like gossip.
- Your history with this person leads you to believe that this convo wonāt end well.
- You donāt feel equipped to talk about the topic.
Iām sure you can come up with all kinds of reasons youād want or need to stop a conversation… But how do you actually stop it??Ā
let’s get REALatable
It’s time to take things a step further & get a little intimate with a Q&A. What do you say?š Learn a little bit about the faces behind all of this relationship gold. This week we’re chatting withĀ Gena Ellis, wife to her college sweetheart, #Boymama to 3 young men, and a Relationship Coach here at First Things First!Ā Let’s get REALatableš & learn a little bit about her:
Q: Favorite ice cream topping?
A:š¦PecansĀ and Caramel- It has to be both of them!
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A:šĀ I had always wanted to be a Police Officer like my older cousin.
Q: Best way to relax?
A: šĀ To do absolutelyĀ nothing but what I WANT to do. If that’s sleep then sleep, if it’s bingeĀ watching a show, then I do that!
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