814: WHAT WILL THE REST OF YOUR YEAR LOOK LIKE
“Checking in on someone shows that you care, especially when they haven’t asked for it.” —Anonymous
With the first six months of the year over, it’s time for some honest self-reflection. Have you achieved any of the marriage goals you set on New Year’s Day? Do you need to reassess your routines to get back on track?
So many couples put their marriage on the back burner during the summer months.
We get it—there are vacations, pool parties, summer camps, and eventually the back-to-school craze. But then that’s quickly followed by a string of holidays…
Ultimately, you can’t coast through the summer and think you’ll be able to cram an extraordinary marriage into the last few months of the year.
That’s why the midpoint of the year is the perfect time to take stock of which areas of your marriage are thriving and which areas need attention.
Whether you’ve had a slow start to the year or it feels like there was rocket fuel behind these first six months, you and your spouse likely have things to celebrate: anniversaries, birthdays, milestones, and so on.
So check in with each other about these two things:
- Which Pillars of Intimacy® are strongest right now?
- Which Pillars of Intimacy® needs attention so you can finish the year strong?
Remember, most ordinary couples set a few marriage goals at the beginning of the year and cross their fingers, hoping they’ll achieve them by December 31.
But extraordinary couples don’t settle for just good enough.
Instead, you put in the work to reap the rewards of a strong, beautiful marriage.
A midyear check-in is your chance to turn the rest of your intentions into action. The 6 Pillars of Intimacy® are dynamic, which means they are constantly changing in your marriage—either getting stronger or weaker.
Among the ONE Family, you shared some areas of your marriage that feel strong as you finish the first half of the year:
- Emotional Intimacy Pillar: We’re having more conversations.
- Physical Intimacy Pillar: My spouse knows how I like to be touched.
- Spiritual Intimacy Pillar: My spouse is a strong spiritual leader.
- Financial Intimacy Pillar: We’re planning for retirement.
- Recreational Intimacy Pillar: We’re booking trips and traveling.
- Sexual Intimacy Pillar: We’re participating in a 60 Day Sex Challenge.
But remember, you don’t just need to focus on what’s working. It’s also important to assess what needs more attention and intention for the rest of the year.
Several of you shared that your emotional intimacy needs some work; you’ve stopped sharing your thoughts and feelings with each other. For others, work and home life don’t leave much time for fun dates.
Some couples want to get back in the habit of praying together, while plenty of couples are working through the effects of menopause or other factors on their sexual intimacy.
As your year goes on, the habits and routines that worked in January might need some tweaks.
It doesn’t mean your actions or plans failed; you just need to adjust to your current circumstances!
In other words, don’t give up on strengthening the areas of your marriage that have fallen off the radar. Instead, talk with each other about how you can get these crucial things on the calendar in this current season.
How strong you started the year doesn’t matter as much as how strong you finish the year.
So, review the past six months and dream about how you want your marriage to look when 2025 comes around. Then, start taking the steps now to make your extraordinary marriage a reality.
Resources
The 6 Pillars of Intimacy Monthly Planner
The 6 Pillars of Intimacy Weekend
Connect with Us
Join the ONE Family private Facebook group to share your story and connect with other couples who are creating extraordinary marriages. To reach us on the Hug Hotline, call or text 858-876-5663 or email hugs@oneextraordinarymarriage.com.
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