Practical Wisdom For M...

7 Ways To Effectively Listen To Your Spouse

Being a gold medal listener to your spouse is one of the best ways to help your partner feel loved, valued, and important.

  1.  Begin with your EYES. Efficient listening always requires that you almost stare into your spouse’s eyes.

  2. PLAN TIME on a daily basis to attentively listen to your partner for even five minutes.

  3. Have NO DISTRACTIONS. The cell phone, tablet, newspaper, or other outside elements will be a block to active listening.

  4. ASK QUESTIONS. Asking back-to-back questions almost forces you to be a successful listener.

  5. AVOID the Cs – Don’t Correct, Criticize, Complain, or Condemn. This may be one of the biggest challenges to being a competent listener.  Having a “C Attitude” produces a focus on yourself rather than your partner.

  6. WATCH YOUR NON-VERBALS. Your tone of voice, facial expression, and body language will either build-up or break down your listening skills.

  7. WORK HARD AT BEING A CAPABLE LISTENER. Being a caring listener actually takes practice on a daily basis.

Please follow me on Facebook and “Like” and “Share” when you read a post that is beneficial so others may receive the post.  If you enjoyed reading this post you may enjoy reading other posts found on the website, www.DrRandallSchroeder.com, under “PRACTICAL WISDOM for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.”

In addition, I now have six marriage videos on my YouTube Channel, “Dr. Randall Schroeder.” Thank you!

7 Signs You Are A Healthy Spouse

On Wednesdays I post a practical wisdom thought or suggestion on Marriage, Parenting, or Life. No spouse is perfect but evaluating these 7 signs can make a positive difference in marital happiness.

  1. You are better in every area of your marriage than the day you got married. You have a strong desire to improve and grow both as a person and a spouse on a daily basis.

  2. You are a giver. You give compliments, physical affection, offer encouragement, and very simply, say and do things often that value your spouse.

  3. You are agreeable and cooperative. You are easy to get along with, meaning, you are flexible, go with the flow, and not a control fanatic with decisions.

  4. You don’t “Have To.” You avoid “Having To”: compulsively shop; gamble; excessively drink alcohol; demonstrate irrational anger; compulsively use technology; etc.

  5. You are a girlfriend/boyfriend to your spouse every day. You never take your spouse for granted by continually winning your partner’s heart through positive words and actions.

  6. You plan time with your spouse. You don’t let your time together happen by chance but you schedule time daily and weekly with your partner.

  7. You are an apologizer and forgiver. You are willingly to admit when you make a mistake as well as forgive when your spouse apologizes to you.

TODAY:  Discuss with your spouse these 7 signs to assess where both of you desire improvement. 

Please follow me on Facebook and “Like” and “Share” when you read a post that is beneficial so others may receive the post.  If you enjoyed reading this post you may enjoy reading other posts found on the website, www.DrRandallSchroeder.com, under “PRACTICAL WISDOM for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.”

In addition, I now have six marriage videos on my YouTube Channel, “Dr. Randall Schroeder.” Thank you!

 

3 Wonderful Marriage Vows

On Wednesdays I post a practical wisdom thought or suggestion on Marriage, Parenting, or Life. Recently, my wife and I attended the wedding of our friends’ daughter.  Both the bride and groom read beautiful personal vows to each other. While expressing their meaningful commitment before all in attendance, their tears indicated they truly believed what they shared.

Marital complacency is often what starts the slippery slope to unhappiness, and sadly, even divorce at times.  To overcome complacency and never take one’s spouse for granted, I think every couple would do well to communicate three additional vows at the wedding ceremony and even regularly throughout the marriage.

Share with your spouse these three vows:  1) Today, I will avoid complacency in every area of our marriage; 2) Today, I will not take you for granted; and 3) Today, I will be a girlfriend/boyfriend to you in order to help you feel valued just like before our wedding day.

Please follow me on Facebook and “Like” and “Share” when you read a post that is beneficial so others may receive the post.  If you enjoyed reading this post you may enjoy reading other posts found on the website, www.DrRandallSchroeder.com, under “PRACTICAL WISDOM for Marriage, Parenting, and Life.”

 In addition, I now have six marriage videos on my YouTube Channel, “Dr. Randall Schroeder.” Thank you!

 

Marital Good Times Rule

On Wednesdays I post a practical wisdom thought or suggestion on Marriage, Parenting, or Life. Research has found that distressed couples have more fights and arguments than happy couples, not surprising. In addition to more arguments, distressed couples also have a tendency to avoid conflicts by withdrawing from each other and that creates a silent marital atmosphere. A muted marital mood compounds the dissatisfaction because that means fewer gratifying times together.

On the other hand, research discovered satisfied couples intentionally have good times together when they are not having arguments.  Happy couples actually plan for those positive times and that produces even more deposits in their emotional love bank account.

TODAY:  Plan for daily, weekly, and monthly good times to strengthen your relationship as well as overcome a silent marital atmosphere.

Please follow me on Facebook and “Like” and “Share” when you read a post that is beneficial so others may receive the post.  If you enjoyed reading this post you may enjoy reading other posts found on the website, www.DrRandallSchroeder.com, under “Categories.” In addition, I now have six marriage videos on my YouTube Channel, “Dr. Randall Schroeder.” Thank you!

#marriage  #happymarriage #relationships

6th  Marital “C” – Compliment Daily

Praise creates positive energy in relationships, especially a marriage.  Learn ideas for developing a marital atmosphere that possesses an attitude of gratitude as well as daily compliments. This is the sixth video as part of the “Twelve Cs.”  The link is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c9MRpPFaTE&t=2s.   I hope that you will also benefit from the other videos on my YouTube channel.

The Twelve “Cs” are:  Commitment To Improve and Grow; Communication: Enhancing Your Connection; Compliment Daily; Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness; Caressing-The Cement; Cohesion:  Your Emotional Connection; Cooperation; Conflict Resolution (Disagreement Discussion); Commitment To Plan; Cash; Clan (Family); and Change.

My YouTube channel is “Dr. Randall Schroeder.”  Will you please help in two ways?  Subscribe to my YouTube channel and whenever you find my video helpful or interesting, will you please both “Like” and “Share” it?

 

5th  Marital “C” – Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness

Without apologies and forgiveness, it will be nearly impossible for a couple to have a satisfying marriage.  Hurts and sins happen in every satisfying marriage because both spouses are imperfect and flawed.  The “glue” for every marital relationship is apologizing and forgiving.  An explanation of the entire apologizing and forgiving process will help enhance a marital relationship. This is the fifth video as part of the “Twelve Cs.”  The link is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwduoXz8NDE&t=4s.   I hope that you will also benefit from the other videos on my YouTube channel.

The Twelve “Cs” are:  Commitment To Improve and Grow; Communication: Enhancing Your Connection; Compliments; Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness; Caressing-The Cement; Cohesion:  Your Emotional Connection; Cooperation; Conflict Resolution (Disagreement Discussion); Commitment To Plan; Cash; Clan (Family); and Change.

My YouTube channel is “Dr. Randall Schroeder.”  Will you please help in two ways?  Subscribe to my YouTube channel and whenever you find my video helpful or interesting, will you please both “Like” and “Share” it?

4th Marital “C” – Caressing: The Cement

Physical touch actually solidifies a marital relationship like cement.  Initially, when I counsel a struggling couple, physical affection is almost nonexistent.  Touch is not only essential for a marriage but physical affection also helps a spouse physically and emotionally. This is the fourth video as part of the “Twelve Cs.”  The link is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2MmQSoxORc  I hope that you will also benefit from the other videos on my YouTube channel.

The Twelve “Cs” are:  Commitment To Improve and Grow; Communication: Enhancing Your Connection; Compliments; Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness; Caressing-The Cement; Cohesion:  Your Emotional Connection; Cooperation; Conflict Resolution (Disagreement Discussion); Commitment To Plan; Cash; Clan (Family); and Change.

My YouTube channel is “Dr. Randall Schroeder.”  Will you please help in two ways?  Subscribe to my YouTube channel and whenever you find my video helpful or interesting, will you please both “Like” and “Share” it?

 

3rd Marital “C” - Cohesion: Your Emotional Connection

I am excited to share that this morning I posted a YouTube video on “Cohesion:  Your Emotional Connection.”  Focusing on developing emotional closeness creates a powerful “heart connection.” When couples are bonded together stress and tension are less likely to be present in the marriage.  When the cohesion is weak, tensions are usually higher and minor irritations become major arguments. This is the third video as part of the “Twelve Cs.”  The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-N-gbL96A&t=20s   I hope that you will also benefit from the other videos on my YouTube channel.

The Twelve “Cs” are:  Commitment To Improve and Grow; Communication: Enhancing Your Connection; Compliments; Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness; Caressing; Cohesion:  Your Emotional Connection; Cooperation; Conflict Resolution (Disagreement Discussion); Commitment To Plan; Cash; Clan (Family); and Change.

My YouTube channel is “Dr. Randall Schroeder.”  Will you please help in two ways?  Subscribe to my YouTube channel and whenever you find my video helpful or interesting, will you please both “Like” and “Share” it?

Communication: Enhancing Your Connection

I am excited to share that this morning I posted a YouTube video on “Communication: Enhancing Your Connection.”  I believe the best synonym for “Communication” is “Connecting.”  Whenever a distressed couple receives counseling, both spouses usually agree that “better communication” would solve a lot of problems.  This video provides ideas and skills for better communication. This is the second video as part of the “Twelve Cs.”  The first “C”: “Commitment To Improve and Grow” is already on my YouTube channel.

The Twelve “Cs” are:  Commitment To Improve and Grow; Communication: Enhancing Your Connection; Compliments; Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness; Caressing; Cohesion; Cooperation; Conflict Resolution (Disagreement Discussion); Commitment To Plan; Cash; Clan (Family); and Change.

My YouTube channel is “Dr. Randall Schroeder.”  Will you please help in two ways?  Subscribe to my YouTube channel and whenever you find my video helpful or interesting, will you please both “Like” and “Share” it?

 

,

Improve Your Twelve “Cs” For A Satisfying Marriage

,

I am excited to share that I will produce YouTube videos on “IMPROVE YOUR TWELVE “Cs” FOR A SATISFYING MARRIAGE.”  Each video will be approximately 2 to 4 minutes in length. The Twelve “Cs” are:  Commitment To Improve and Grow; Confession (Apologizing) and Forgiveness; Communication; Caring; Caressing; Cohesion; Cooperation; Conflict Resolution (Disagreement Discussion); Commitment To Plan; Cash; Clan (Family); and Change.

The first “C”: “Commitment To Improve and Grow” is already on my YouTube channel.  For a strong, healthy marriage, each partner should strive to “Improve and Grow” as a spouse on a daily basis.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMcE8CrC8o0&t=23s

My YouTube channel is “Dr. Randall Schroeder.”  Will you please help in two ways?  Subscribe to my YouTube channel and whenever you find my video helpful or interesting, will you please both “Like” and “Share” it?

Please follow me also on Facebook and Twitter.