Category: Validation

• Healthy Boundaries and Expectations for a Heart-to-Heart And Linkup!

  

  Today I’m continuing in the series that was born out of the results from my Men and Openness survey by unpacking a bit more what a wife (or any spouse for that matter) needs to keep in mind in a heart-to-heart. [Tweet “If you want to encourage openness, establish healthy boundaries and realistic expectations.”] Since…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 15, 2015

  Acceptance, Authenticity, Boundaries, Change, Codependency, Comfort, Communication, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Control, Emotions, Expectations, Listening Skills, Marriage, Perseverance, Proactive, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Active Listening, Boundaries, Communication, Emotions, Perseverance, Realistic Expectations, Reflective Listening, Respect

• 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

• 8 Things to Avoid When Your Husband Opens Up And Linkup

  

  Today we’re continuing to focus on the answers that I gleaned from my “Men and Openness” survey, in an effort to address some of the hindrances that are present in attempts to communicate between a husband and wife, as well as to point out what encourages better communication. Today I want to focus on the…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 1, 2015

  Acceptance, Attitude, Avoidance, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Comfort, Communication, Confessional Culture, Control, Differences, Gender Differences, Grace, Listening Skills, Men and Openness Series, Nagging, Negotiation, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Support, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Acceptance, Active Listening, Communication, Control, Listening, Openness, Respect

• 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

• What Men Say About Opening Up And WW Linkup!

  

  Today we are diving into the first of the responses from the “Men and Openness” survey. The first question I posed to men was: What makes opening up and disclosing your feelings to your wife difficult? Here are the results … 65.52% – I am afraid my wife will become upset by my disclosures. 53.45%…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 10, 2015

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Authenticity, Avoidance, Blaming, Choices, Communication, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Fear, Listening Skills, Marriage, Men and Openness Series, Positive Focus, Prayer, Respect, Safety, Support, Trust, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Communication, Confession, Conflict, Emotional Safety, Emotions, Openness, Safety, Vulnerability

• A Wife’s Perspective on Men and Openness And WW Linkup!

  

  In a couple of weeks I will be diving into a series on “Men and Openness” that’s based upon a survey that I’ve been conducting for several months now. But today I want to approach this sticky subject from my own feminine and often skewed (probably due to Estrogen) perspective. 😉 [Tweet “My husband and…

  BethSteffaniak

  October 20, 2015

  About Me, Acceptance, Authenticity, Avoidance, Bonding, Change, Choices, Comfort, Communication, Conflict, Control, Differences, Emotions, Encouragement, Expectations, False Beliefs, Fear, Gender Differences, Intimacy, Men and Openness Series, Negative Self-Talk, Negotiation, Perspective, Priorities, Proactive, Realistic Expectations, Self-Protection, Togetherness, Truth, Validation, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Barriers, Communication, Conflict, Conversation Skills, Emotions, False Beliefs, Gender Differences, Openness, Vulnerability

• How to Affirm Your Mate Printable

  

  It’s been quite a challenge to get back on track with the blog since vacationing and celebrating my son’s wedding. Add to that, my laptop has a major issue that has left several computer geeks stumped and you might understand why I’m taking yet another break from my Sloppy Joe Times. I will be back,…

  BethSteffaniak

  June 28, 2015

  Acceptance, Affection, Affirmation, Bonding, Communication, Encouragement, Love, Positive Focus, Validation

  Affirmation, Communication, Positive Focus, Validation

• 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

• Will you validate how I feel? Video

  Today I’m continuing the conversation on the difficulty of receiving your spouse’s hurt. For me, I’ve discovered that I have a faulty belief that interferes and hinders my ability to validate my spouse in those moments. I’d love it if you’d take 3+ minutes out of your day to check it out!     Are there…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 2, 2014

  Acceptance, Anger, Avoidance, Bonding, Confrontation, False Beliefs, Listening Skills, Respect, Sloppy Joe Time Video, Validation, Vulnerability

  Communication, Conflict, Faulty Beliefs, Listening Skills, Validation

• How to Receive Your Spouse’s Hurt – Video

  

  I’m back with another installation of  “Sloppy Joe Time” that unpacks the many sloppy expectations we have in life and marriage. Today’s video tackles how to receive the hard truth of how you’ve hurt your spouse. After all, if we are breathing and have a pulse, we will hurt our spouse! We may not always do it…

  BethSteffaniak

  October 26, 2014

  Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Empathy, Listening Skills, Sloppy Joe Time Video, Validation, Video

  Communication, Conflict, Conflict Resolution, Defensiveness, Empathy, Listening Skills, Responsibility