January 27, 2023
top trending topics
❤️ Intimacy is more than sex. Grow closer to your spouse!
😠 Conflict can be tough, esp. if your spouse doesn’t handle it well!
🎯 If you’re disappointed in your spouse, this could be a game-changer for your marriage.
🤝 You’re feeling betrayed, but rebuilding trust and moving forward together is possible.
🚦Anyone could have an affair- Understand why they happen in the 1st place.
tips & tricks for growth
when their empathy is lacking…
You want your spouse to be fully present with you in your feelings, thoughts and situations in life. 💔But what happens when they don’t show empathy? You probably feel alone, unimportant and misunderstood. You’ve opened up, but your spouse seems unable or uninterested in responding in an empathetic way.
Simple phrases like, I get you, I feel you, and I’m here for you, are gestures toward empathy. When they’re sincere, they mean I. Am. With. You. You are not alone. But empathy doesn’t stop there. Empathy isn’t complete without action…
👉 So, how do you help your spouse learn empathy? Telling your spouse they’re not empathetic is probably not gonna help.
The term empathy has evolved and has recently exploded in popularity. That’s great, but it can be confusing if it’s not clearly defined. Researcher Brené Brown describes two types of empathy:
- Cognitive Empathy
- Affective Empathy
become a (go)al getter
Did you make New Year’s resolutions? How’s it going? For some people, resolutions lead to breaking bad habits or building healthy new habits. But these success stories seem to be the exception, not the rule come February. ✅ How do you make new habits stick?
Despite sincere intentions and best efforts, resolutions are already beginning to unravel for many people.😅 They are beginning to feel frustration and even guilt. These are people who genuinely want to make changes in their lives. What’s the deal?
Let’s talk about expectations and bring in a behavior expert to help us reach our goals…
Are you a “new year, new you” person? Sure, the new year can be an ideal time for a fresh start, but expecting to overhaul your life as of January 1st could be a setup for a letdown.
Improving our quality of life should be something we think about and work on year-round. Consider adopting a “new day, new way” mentality.
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?😉 Learn a little bit about the faces behind all of this relationship gold. This week we’re chatting with Kelly Brugh, (Our newest addition to #TeamFTF!) wife of 6 years to husband Landon, #dogmama to a chocolate lab, and the Vice President of Development here at First Things First. Let’s get REALatable💛 & learn a little bit about her:
Q: Favorite city you’ve lived in?
A: ↘️ I’ve lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee and I swear I’m not trying to be super cheesy! My favorite city I’ve lived in is Chattanooga, TN. It’s unique with the amount of outdoor activities, history, shopping, fabulous dining, pet-friendly atmosphere, and cultural diversity. Chattanooga is surrounded by other amazing locations in the south within a nearly 2 hour radius: Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta.
Q: Best lesson learned from a stranger?
A: 💛 We live in such a materialistic world, but at the end of the day the only things that matter is your family living under a roof that you call home.
Q: What is your ideal ‘Treat yourself’ day?
A: 💅 Oh man, I’m going to have to plan a day like this now that I’m giving it some serious thought. I’d start the day with brunch with my husband- I’m a real sucker for a good eggs Benedict. I’d do a little shopping then get a mani/pedi and a facial. That evening, my husband and I would watch Below Deck on Bravo (Anyone else a fan?) while snuggling with my pup!
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