March 25, 2022
top trending topics
š©āā¤ļøāšāšØ When the romance has gone missing, spark the passion again.
š« If your spouse shuts down at the 1st sign of conflict, here’s how you can manage the tension.Ā
āļø Move forward & break the porn addiction with these resources.
š„ If intimacy seems non-existent, reigniting the flames may be easier than you think.
šĀ Spouse refusing to communicate? Break the silence with these tips.
tips & tricks for growth
finding common interests with your spouse
There are two kinds of spouses in the world. (Ugh. I canāt stand statements like this.)
- Those who think itās not important to share some common interests with their spouse.
- Those who think not having common interests is the end of the world. (Or marriage.)
Theyāre both wrong.Ā Developing some common interests reinforces that you are a team and keeps you connected. It builds one of the most overlooked areas in marriageāfriendship. (Newlyweds: āWeāre soooo in love!ā 10 Years Later And Beyond: āWeāre best friends.ā)
For those two kinds of spouses (And everyone in between) Here’s how you find those common interests…
Each of you get out a piece of paper and thoroughly answer these three questions:
š When you were a kid, what were you interested in?
š What were you interested in when you were in high school?
š What are you interested in lately?
Now compare your answers. One of you was interested in exploring as a kid. One of youĀ was interested in camping out. Reconnect with those childhood interests as you connectĀ with each other on a camping adventure. Be curious. Keep comparing lists. Make connections. Find the overlap.
find your compassionate side
Compassion is where empathy meets action.Ā Itās the difference between caring and showing care. You want your spouse to know you can feel their pain, and youāre willing to do something about it. And studies show that youāre better off for showing compassion whether your spouse acknowledges it or not.
Do you want to be more compassionate toward your spouse? Sure you do! We’ve got you covered with some tips to help:
- Put your energy into understanding.Ā Compassion starts withĀ listeningĀ for understanding. Listen, not for how you can fix it or be right, but to understand your spouseās thoughts, emotions, and desires.
- Step outside of yourself.Ā Things affect people differently. You may not react to disappointment, pain, or betrayal the way your spouse would.
- Never forget: your spouse is human, too.Ā We all have our imperfections. Treating a spouse as though they shouldnāt make mistakes will block compassion.
what we’re lovin’
This week’s picks come from Kris Nash, wife to her husband of 25 years, Greg, #GirlMom of 3,Ā and the Editor here at First Things First.Ā Take a peek at her recommendations for this week because they are just THAT GOOD.Ā Check ’em out š
šļøĀ I love a good yard sale, but Iāve recently discovered āBuy Nothingā groups on Facebook and I think Iām in love. If you can find a local group, itās a convenient and practical way to give away stuff that someone else might want or need, or to get something youād like to have without any money changing hands. (Borrowing is sometimes an option, too!) What a great tool for helping each other!
š” Iām always looking for ways to make our home cozier and more enjoyable for our family. Myquillyn Smith calls herself The Nester, and she focuses on the fact that things donāt have to be perfect to be beautiful in your home. Check her out!
š„ Inevitably, you and your spouse are gonna have some aches and pains to deal with. Wouldnāt it be great to have a physical therapist on hand to help you care for your body? Thatās where Dr. Jen Fraboni comes in. Check out @docjenfit for a few ways to not only relieve pain but to proactively take care of each other. (This obviously doesnāt replace medical care!)
share the love
Know a friend who would love reading all the relationship goodness we’ve packed in here? Go ahead andĀ share it with them!