Category: Empathy

• 4 Ways Listening Draws My Mate to Me

  

  My husband and I did not enter marriage as great listeners or with amazingly refined listening skills. We were young and really not all that aware of how important listening was to our marriage. I would go on in those early days of marriage to get my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling, where…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 23, 2017

  Acceptance, Anger, Bonding, Comfort, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Empathy, Encouragement, Listening Skills, Openness, Perspective, Positive Focus, Respect, Support, Togetherness, Validation

  Bond, Closeness, Communication, Conflict, Empathy, Listening, Perspective, Respect, Togetherness

• How ‘Stranger Things’ is like the ‘Fine Art’ of Listening (& Linkup)

  

  My husband and I have been watching the Netflix series “Stranger Things” lately, and I see a metaphor in that show that perfectly illustrates the “Fine Art” of listening. What is it? Well, let me lay some groundwork before I reveal that answer. There’s no hiding the fact that my husband and I have had some…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 19, 2017

  Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Back to School Series, Choices, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Positive Focus, Self-sacrifice, Validation, Withdrawal

  Anger, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Empathy, Listening, Questions, Validation

• Finding Healing for Your Wounds And Linkup

  

  Today I’m continuing the series on the wounds of our past by focusing on how to bring healing to those wounds through a new spiritual and relational focus. This means delving a bit deeper into what must be done in tandem with any ongoing prayer/processing of wounds (that I’ve shared in past posts). I believe…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 15, 2016

  About Me, Acceptance, Authenticity, Choices, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Confession, Confessional Culture, Denial, Empathy, Encouragement, Faith in God, God’s Redemption, Guilt, Identity, Love, Love of God, Pain, Perspective, Prayer, Redemption, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Image, Self-Reflection, Shame, Surrender, Toxic Baggage, Truth, Unity, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday, Wounds

  Acceptance, Christ’s Wounds, Comfort, God’s Redemption, Healing, Wounds

• What Men Fear about Opening Up And Linkup

  

  Today I want to continue to unpack the results of the “Men and Openness” survey by looking at question #5 … What do you feel you need to overcome in order to be better able to identify and share your feelings? (I allowed the men to choose all that applied) 70.49% – My fear of…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 2, 2016

  Alienation, Anger, Authenticity, Avoidance, Balance, Blaming, Bonding, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Confrontation, Control, Criticism, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Fear, Gender Differences, Humility, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Respect, Security, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday, Withdrawal

  Affirmation, Communication, Conflict, Empathy, Fear, Listening Skills. Active Listening, Openness, Prayer, Vulnerability

• What Distorts and Damages Men’s Openness? And Linkup

  

  I’m picking up where we left off from the “Men and Openness Survey” series by unpacking question number 4 from the survey … What outside sources have been hindrances to you opening up and sharing your feelings with your wife? (I let the men choose all that applied.) 55.56% – The poor example I saw…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 26, 2016

  Acceptance, Christ-Centered, Communication, Discouragement, Empathy, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, God’s Redemption, Listening Skills, Marriage, Men and Openness Series, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Openness, Parenthood, Perspective, Realistic Expectations, Self-awareness, Shame, Toxic Baggage, Wedded Wednesday, Wounds

  Communication, Forgiveness, God’s Redemption, Openness, Realistic Expectations, Stigma, Toxic Baggage, Vulnerability, Wounds

• Steps that Encourage Your Man to Open Up with You

  

  I’m excited about today’s post because I get to focus on the positive communication techniques that wives (or husbands) can do to improve times of sharing and disclosure with their spouses. I’d like to reference the top three responses to the second question on the Men and Openness Survey that I conducted recently. I asked:…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 8, 2015

  Acceptance, Affirmation, Alienation, Attitude, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Communication, Conflict, Control, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Grace, Listening Skills, Men and Openness Series, Perseverance, Perspective, Realistic Expectations, Safety, Trust, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Active Listening, Communication, Empathy, Listening Skills, Openness, Safety, Vulnerability

• Picking Hubby’s Brain on Openness

  Today I’m excited to kick-off a new video series called, “Picking Hubby’s Brain” where I will be exploring what my man thinks on topics that are a mystery to many of us women and wives—in particular to me! 😉 Today’s topic for exploration is on “Men and Openness.”  There’s so much wisdom and clarity on this…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 15, 2015

  Acceptance, Anger, Authenticity, Blaming, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Communication, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Gender Differences, Listening Skills, Love, Men and Openness Series, Positive Focus, Prayer, Safety, Self-sacrifice, Support, Validation, Video, Vulnerability

  Active Listening, Communication, Empathy, Listening, Men and Openness, Video, Vulnerability

• Will you soothe my mood? SJT Video

  

  Ever give yourself permission to vent with your spouse? Well, I certainly do and have! In my latest “Sloppy Joe Time” video, I share what I’m trying to get my spouse to do when I vent (yes, that means “messy manipulation” is present!). And I share the three positive strategies I’m using to turn that…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 3, 2015

  About Me, Anger, Apologies, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Communication, Confession, Criticism, Emotions, Empathy, Expectations, False Beliefs, Humility, Negative Self-Talk, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Self-Reflection, Sloppy Joe Time Video, Stress

  Apologies, Blame, Communication, Confession, Expectations, Prayer, Sloppy Joe Time, Venting

• Did I make you mad? SJT Video

  

  In this “Sloppy Joe Time” video, I’m tackling the need for perspective whenever my spouse is irritated, grouchy, feeling bad or whatever, but it has nothing to do with me. In those times, I tend to get too close to the situation and try to take responsibility for what is my husband’s responsibility and problem.…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 19, 2015

  About Me, Anger, Boundaries, Choices, Codependency, Emotions, Empathy, False Beliefs, Listening Skills, Perspective, Realistic Expectations, Responsibility, Self-Protection, Sloppy Joe Time Video, Stress, Support, Validation

  Boundaries, Emotions, Enmeshment, Listening Skills, Perspective, Stress, Support

• Does Your Spouse Need Perspective? SJT Video

  

  Ever find yourself in the middle of a painful conversation about a past hurt with your spouse, and you don’t know why your spouse isn’t resonating with or able to receive in a gracious way how s/he has hurt you? Well, in my latest Sloppy Joe Time video, I talk about what you both need…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 18, 2015

  Acceptance, Anger, Apologies, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Emotions, Empathy, False Beliefs, Grace, Patience, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Self-Reflection, Sloppy Joe Time Video

  communciation, Conflict Resolution, Deescalation, Emotions, Patience, Perspective