Tag: Listening Skills

• 7 Ways to Clean Up Being Disrespectful to Your Spouse

  

  Recently, I was disrespectful to my husband while we were at our small group Bible study, of all places! It was just that the direction my husband was taking during our discussion just got under my skin. So I sat there stewing—thinking of what I would say to him later in a private moment. Apparently,…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 28, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Amends, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Humility, Listening Skills, Love of God, Marriage, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Respect, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Surrender, Vulnerability

  Communication, Conflict, Cover with Love, Criticism, Disrespect, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Listening Skills, Respect, Surender to God

• 3 Ways to Fix Broken Communication in Marriage

  

  Today, I’m honored to offer one more post in my “Lessons Learned in Marriage Series”—this time on communication by guest blogger Crystal Twaddell. I hope you’ll read Crystal’s insights to find out how to navigate this challenge in marriage better. And be sure to check out her bio below, as well as supporting her with your…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 25, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Counseling, Differences, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Grace, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Listening Skills, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Openness, Pain, Perspective, Positive Focus, Proactive, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Unity, Validation

  Communication, Counseling, Emotions, Filters, Grace in Marriage, Listening Skills, Openness, Processing Pain

• Getting Your Spouse to Open Up – Part Two (Video)

  

  Today I’m talking about the second half of the process that will encourage your spouse to open up and engage with you in conversation. I feel like this should be a process that is built brick by brick—keeping each brick in place as the foundation of trust in your marriage is built, perhaps for the…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 4, 2016

  Acceptance, Accountability, Affirmation, Alienation, Amends, Apologies, Attitude, Avoidance, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Conversation, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Engagement, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Questioning Marriage Videos, Realistic Expectations, Self-Reflection, Validation, Video, Vulnerability

  Accountability, Affirmation, Communication, Conversation, Listening, Listening Skills, Openness, Prayer, Vulnerability

• 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

• 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

• The Communication Tool that Opens Hearts … and Linkup!

  

  If you’ve been viewing over the past month or so my video podcasts, then you’re aware that I promised to tell you about a communication “tool” that my husband and I use to handle conflicts effectively. That tool is “reflective listening.” I’m going to provide detailed instructions on how to practice reflective listening in its…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 4, 2014

  Acceptance, Anger, Apologies, Bonding, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Empathy, Encouragement, Listening Skills, Self-sacrifice, Wedded Wednesday

  Active Listening, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Listening Skills, Reflective Listening

• 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

• 5 Ways to be Safe for Your Spouse

  Today we’re excited to have a guest post from my blogging buddy, Linda Stoll! She has graciously offered to help lighten my load this week while I continue with my radiation treatment. If you don’t know Linda, you really should get to know her! Not only is she an insightful and resource-FULL blogger, but she’s…

  BethSteffaniak

  February 9, 2014

  Acceptance, Communication, Encouragement, Grace, Listening Skills, Validation

  Emotional Safety, Listening Skills, Validation