927: The Words Your Spouse Needs to Hear
“Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.” —George Adams
It’s easy to assume your spouse knows you love them, appreciate them, and are proud of them. But hearing it and knowing it are two different things.
Over time, words of encouragement can start to fade into the background. When everything in life is competing for your attention, your interactions might start revolving around what needs to get done instead of truly connecting and encouraging each other.
And before long, you may be much quicker to point out what went wrong than to say what went right.
In this episode, we are talking about the words your spouse needs to hear and how encouragement can strengthen your Emotional Intimacy Pillar.
When the ONE Family was asked whether they feel encouraged enough by their spouse, 61% said they wish it happened more.
And then they shared how encouragement makes them feel: seen, loved, appreciated, chosen, empowered, and even “unstoppable.”
Watch the Full Episode
But the challenge is that you might be thinking positive thoughts but not saying them out loud.
How many positive thoughts about your spouse never actually make it out of your mouth?
Encouragement is as simple as paying attention to your spouse and putting words to what you genuinely notice.
Maybe it sounds like:
- “I’m proud of you.”
- “I see how hard you’re working.”
- “You handled that really well.”
- “I believe in you.”
- “You’ve got this.”
In this episode, you’ll also learn why being specific can make encouragement more meaningful, how to ask your spouse what they actually need to hear, and why pairing encouraging words with loving touch can strengthen both your Emotional Intimacy and Physical Intimacy Pillars.
And if encouragement feels difficult because there is resentment, broken trust, unresolved conflict, or years of criticism between the two of you, consider applying for marriage coaching.
Your spouse will hear thousands of words this week.
Make sure some of the ones that matter most come from you.
Resources
The 6 Pillars of Intimacy® Certified Coaching Program
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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