Tag: Openness

• Relationship Communication: 6 Keys for a Successful Marriage

  

  Today, I’m glad to introduce you to Rachael Pace, who is sharing some important benefits that effective communication in marriage can bring to our lives and marriages. You can find more about her at her bio below! Please, make her feel welcome by commenting below and sharing to all of your favorite social media spots! …

  BethSteffaniak

  June 25, 2019

  Alienation, Anger, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Bonding, Boundaries, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Desires, Differences, Discouragement, Empathy, Encouragement, Marriage, Marriage Spark, Openness, Passion, Positive Focus, Resentments

  Anger, Communication, Communication in Marriage, Conflict Resolution, Empathy, Openness, Problem-Solve, Sex Life

• 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

• The Unfair Task of Holding in Your Personal Truth in Marriage

  

  Did you know my husband is an open book with a transparent cover and see-through pages?! I always know exactly where I stand with him at just about every moment of our marriage. This can be a good thing most of the time. I’m grateful for his openness and willingness to clear the air. But…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 20, 2018

  Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Authenticity, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Connection, Criticism, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Grace, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Pain, Patience, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Relief, Respect, Safety, Self-Protection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices, Support, Truth, Unfair Realities in Marriage

  Boundaries, Communication, Discretion, Hold Tongue, Kindness, Listen, Openness, Respect, Sensitivity, Timing, Truth, Understanding

• Simple Date Idea #7 – Gratitude Walk

  

  My husband and I have discovered that often one of the first “honeymoon phase” practices to go is expressing gratitude to each other. That means it’s often a distant image in the rearview mirror for most couples who’ve been married for any length of time. But oh how it improves the atmosphere and culture of…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 22, 2017

  Affirmation, Bonding, Connection, Conversation, Dates with Mates, Encouragement, Love for God, Love of God, Marriage Spark, Openness, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Self-Reflection, Simple Date Ideas, Thankfulness, Togetherness, Vulnerability

  Affirmation, Bonding, Dates with Mates, Dating, Gratitude, Openness, Priorities, Vulnerability

• 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

• Getting Your Spouse to Open Up! Video

  Getting a reluctant mate to open up to you is about as easy as coaxing a cranky toddler to eat his peas. At least, that’s what I’ve discovered in my own life. And it’s also what I’ve heard from countless others, especially wives, in conversationless marriages. Today I’m answering another reader’s question in my “Questioning…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 20, 2016

  Acceptance, Accountability, Affirmation, Alienation, Attitude, Avoidance, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conversation, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Openness, Prayer, Questioning Marriage Videos, Realistic Expectations, Safety, Self-Reflection, Video

  Communication, Conversation, Fear, Openness, Prayer, Safety, Video

• 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

• What Men Say Motivates in Marriage And WW Linkup!

  

  I’m back from Christmas vacation and I have to tell you, it’s been hard to get back into the swing of blogging again. Not that I don’t enjoy it, but currently I feel a bit burned out by it all, since my life at the moment has less margin than I would like for it…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 5, 2016

  About Me, Accountability, Choices, Counseling, Encouragement, Marriage, Men and Openness Series, Openness, Perspective, Positive Focus, Proactive, Self-awareness, Support, Wedded Wednesday

  Accountability, Counseling, Interventions, Marriage Books, Openness, Proactive, Small Groups, Support

• 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