Life as we know it is harder than it has ever been for many of us. You have to worry about making sure your job is secure, your family is healthy, and that you are practicing your self-care. When it comes to your spouse’s needs, you might be forgetting they too need some inspiration. In this article, we will explore 5 ways to keep your spouse encouraged during difficult times.
5 Ways to Keep Your Spouse Encouraged During Difficult Times
In This Article:
- Why Your Spouse Needs Encouragement
- Share What Works for You
- Use This One Key Communication Skill
- Turn Off The Media
- Find Something to Laugh At Together
- Find Something to Look Forward to Together
Why Your Spouse Needs Encouragement
Not many couples talk about every single thing. When there is stress or individuals feel anxiety, some tend to hold it in and try to figure it out on their own. Some don’t want to be a burden on their spouse. The truth is, this is the sort of thing a spouse should actually support the other partner in. A partnership means you and your spouse should be there for one another through the good, the bad, and everything in between. So, that definitely includes the moments where you and your partner need encouragement most. Even when your spouse doesn’t come right out and say what they need, if you pay close enough attention you will see the signs. If your partner seems anxious, or short with you all of a sudden, that’s your cue to bring on the encouragement and be there to get your partner through. Your spouse needs to know you are there through thick and thin.
Share What Works for You
Another tip to keep your spouse encouraged is to share what works for you. Everyone feels stress, though they may handle it in different ways. Think about how you have handled yourself when you have felt pressured. Or think about the techniques you have put in place to help with your own healing. How have you shown up and in what ways have you been able to release stress and get back to yourself? These are techniques you might want to share with your spouse. They might be in a certain space and not be able to figure out how to get out of it. Your advice might provide some insight on how they too might be able to move forward. Even if they don’t follow your exact advice, it could help them to see their own path to healing. Be sure to share what has worked with you, not necessarily in a forceful way, but just as a suggestion. Your spouse will be grateful to know that they aren’t alone in feeling how they feel and that they have a partner who can offer guidance in these types of situations.
Use This One Key Communication Skill
Active listening is one of those key communication skills you might take for granted. During difficult times, your partner needs you to listen more than you speak. Sometimes individuals just need to get it out and they require a partner and a space to do just that. So, as difficult as it might be to just listen, it might just be necessary for your spouse. In order to actively listen, there are a few things to keep in mind. You should check for understanding, acknowledge that what your partner is feeling is valid, and actually validate what they’ve said. Using phrases like “That would be difficult for anybody to go through” or “Yes, I hear you and that makes sense that you would feel that way” are really good phrases to make sure your spouse feels validated and heard. Also, when actively listening, you don’t have to actually try to fix it. Your spouse doesn’t necessarily need you to fix their issue, they just want you to know that there is an issue. So put on your listening ears and be there to keep your spouse encouraged when they need you.
Turn Off the Media
To keep a little bit of sanity, it is good to turn off the media, social and otherwise. There is so much disturbing news in the world. It is hard to stay encouraged when it feels like there is nothing to be encouraged about. That’s where a good spouse comes in to remind our spouse of the good that still exists. Temporarily turning off the media will help you to do that. While it is turned off, use that time to focus on the good times. Pull out that photo album of your last vacation, or your wedding photos, or maybe even images from when your children were born, and enjoy talking about those precious moments with your spouse. Reminiscing can be good for the soul. Do that as often as possible and remind your spouse that there are still good memories left to make.
Find Something to Laugh at Together
Laughter is healing to the soul and the spirit. You and your spouse can bring more laughter into your marriage by looking for more opportunities that make you smile. Watching funny movies or comedy specials are easy ways to add more laughter. But there are also creative ways to add that laughter. Playing funny games like Twister or Jenga (with added phrases or dares on the blocks), creating silly and playful private videos or a draft of TikToks that you don’t necessarily share, or even taking funny selfies are ways to explore the playful side of your relationship. This is also a great way to help you escape from the everyday pressures of life.
Find Something to Look Forward to Together
Though it might be hard right now to focus on what the future looks like, it has to be done. We all need something to look forward to. Hope is what we all need to keep our minds focused on the positive. Together, with your spouse, think about your plans for the future. There will be opportunities to travel again; to go out and visit friends, explore new places, and have adventures together again. You and your spouse will celebrate anniversaries and birthdays and milestone events for your children. There will be life after the difficult times and you and your spouse should be preparing for those moments. It might feel odd to plan but do it anyway. And the end of the year is the perfect time to create your goals and even create your couple’s vision board. Reminding your spouse that you both have so much to look forward to together is a great way to keep them encouraged.
Everyone needs a partner in life who will support them and it’s imperative to keep your spouse encouraged when life is hard. Again, you can show up for your spouse by sharing how you press forward, listening actively, turning off the media, bringing in more laughter, and reminding them of all you have to look forward to. Together, you and your spouse will be able to weather any storm that comes your way.
BMWK, what are some ways you keep your spouse encouraged during difficult times?
