Making Marriages Work Part 2
If you want your marriage to work, you need to be able to handle conflict. There is no way around this. It does not matter how much you love each other!! People do not seem to believe this, especially those couples that indicate, “well, we never fight.”. I promise you, we all know these couples and we all look up to them, and then we are really surprised when they finally separate “out of the blue”, and “no one saw it coming”.
Conflict resolution skills are crucial in any marriage, and it is important for both partners to develop and practice these skills. Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, and being able to handle disagreements in a constructive and respectful way can help to strengthen the bond between partners.
A recent study conducted by El-Nahas and colleagues (2021) found that couples who reported higher levels of conflict resolution skills had higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of emotional distress. The researchers also found that communication skills played a critical role in effective conflict resolution. Specifically, couples who reported using more constructive communication strategies, such as active listening and expressing feelings in a non-judgmental way, reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of emotional distress.
Effective conflict resolution skills involve being able to communicate effectively, express emotions in a healthy way, and work collaboratively to find solutions to problems. It is important for both partners to be willing to listen to each other's perspective and work towards finding common ground. In situations where one partner feels overwhelmed or upset, it may be helpful to take a break from the discussion and revisit the issue at a later time when both partners are calm and ready to communicate effectively.
Another key component of effective conflict resolution is the ability to take responsibility for one's actions and acknowledge when one has made a mistake. This involves being able to apologize sincerely and take steps to make amends. By doing so, partners can demonstrate their commitment to the relationship and work towards repairing any damage that may have been caused by the conflict.
As we said on the farm, “Everyone messes up, the only thing that matters, is what are you going to do about it.”
Come heal, grow and create together
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