The coronavirus is not only wreaking havoc on our health and economy, but it’s also having a huge impact on our relationships. The social distancing measures introduced across the country have done two things.
It isolates you from your partner, creating further distance and anxiety. Or, the attachment causes ongoing stress, forcing you to reevaluate what you want from a partner.
Gentlemen, if your relationship has taken a hit and you’re not clear on what you need to do, here are four things to get you back on track to understanding what your spouse needs.
Here are four small ways men can become better people than 95% of husbands.
1. Practice open communication
If you want to get back on track, open communication needs to happen regularly and often.
If you haven’t been communicating openly during this crisis, it could be giving your spouse a signal that the relationship is coming to an end.
And if you want a healthy relationship back, open communication is a top priority. Open communication helps strengthen mutual respect. It also helps you be more transparent with your partners.
Open communication also helps avoid misunderstandings because less is left unsaid and spouses feel more at ease. You will also feel better because you will be able to get things off your chest and communicate with less stress.
2. Honesty remains the best policy.
Being honest with your partner during this time can bring you great relief.
This will bring back the positive energy that will make your relationship flourish while mitigating future ups and downs.
3. Start taking responsibility for your role in the relationship.
Doing this can make a big difference in your relationship, especially if you’ve been resistant to doing this in the past.
By taking responsibility for your actions, you show her that you can be vulnerable too, which in turn can help her do the same.
The best way to start taking ownership is done in three steps:
- become self-aware
- apologize
- Understand that your actions affect your spouse
We also need to stop blaming ourselves for things we haven’t done. This is counterproductive to his two topics discussed earlier: open communication and honesty.
4. Strive to rebuild trust
If you can work on the first three things, their trust in you will increase.
The important thing to keep in mind is to actively listen to your partner when it comes to open communication. Because that’s the main element.
If you have to apologize for your actions, make sure you act on those words.
And finally, be patient! Don’t beat yourself up if things don’t improve overnight.
If you keep working on your relationship, you will be in a stronger position.
By taking these steps now, you can repair the damage caused to your relationship. Your spouse will truly understand that you are not only meeting their needs physically, but also emotionally.
keith dent I’m a writer, blogger, relationship and life coach. His work has appeared on sites such as The Good Men Project, MamaMia, and The Real Dad’s Network.
This article was originally published at: strive for success. Reprinted with permission from the author.