In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy and thriving marriage can be challenging. One of the key factors in ensuring a successful partnership is effective communication. This article will explore the importance of communication in a marriage, drawing on insights from the Gottmans’ new book on fixing marriages in 7 days, as well as discussing the role of spiritual intimacy, handling finances, raising children, supporting each other’s goals, and maintaining the relationship.
Mastering the Art of Communication
The Gottmans’ new book emphasizes the importance of communication in a thriving marriage. Their number one relationship hack is “turning toward,” which involves acknowledging your partner’s bids for connection positively. Decades of data from the Gottman Love Lab show that small moments of kindness and connection can predict marital happiness. In one experiment, couples who remained together turned toward each other 86% of the time, while those who divorced did so only 33% of the time. Being nice to your partner during small daily moments is crucial for a successful marriage.
Spiritual Intimacy in a Christian Marriage
For Christian couples, spiritual intimacy is an essential aspect of marriage. It’s important to discuss how you both experience spiritual intimacy and what you expect from it in your marriage. This can help strengthen your bond and provide a solid foundation for your partnership.
Managing Finances Together
Money is one of the most common sources of conflict in marriages. It’s crucial to discuss how you both handle finances, your financial goals, and how you’ll manage your money as a couple. This includes budgeting, saving, and spending, ensuring that you’re both on the same page when it comes to your financial future.
Raising Children and Parenting Styles
If you plan to have children, discussing how you’ll raise them is essential. Talk about your parenting styles, how you’ll discipline your children, and how you’ll handle conflicts that arise with them. This will help you create a united front when it comes to parenting and ensure that your children grow up in a loving and supportive environment.
Supporting Each Other’s Goals and Dreams
Marriage is a partnership, and supporting each other’s goals and dreams is crucial. Discuss your individual goals and how you plan to support each other in achieving them. This will help you grow together as a couple and ensure that you both feel fulfilled in your partnership.
Maintaining Your Relationship
Marriage requires effort to maintain. Discuss how you plan to keep your relationship strong, including how you’ll spend time together, how you’ll handle conflicts, and how you’ll continue to grow together. By actively working on your relationship, you’ll be better equipped to face the challenges that life throws your way and enjoy a long-lasting, thriving marriage.