婚姻十忌(一)
WideBridge @ yeeyan.com 2009年08月02日简介
婚姻之花娇嫩,需要用心呵护。懂得哪些事可做、哪些事不可做;懂得出现问题如何去解决,才能使爱情之花永远绽放。
把深陷泥沼的婚姻转移到互相信任的安全地带
by Dr. Michael Tobin
爱这种情感十分微妙。它会从指责、愤怒和讽刺的氛围撒腿开溜,却会在尊重、接受和坦诚的环境下茁壮成长。下列10条婚姻戒律 --- 如果得到自觉、认真的遵守 --- 将把深陷泥沼的婚姻转移到互相信任的安全地带。
为什么要开一张婚姻禁忌的清单,而不是一串婚姻"必做"的积极建议呢?下面这个《塔木德经》的故事将回答这个问题:
一个没有信仰的人遇见伟大哲人、长者希勒尔,要求他用一只脚站立的时间教授他整本《托拉》。希勒尔同意了,并说:"己所不欲勿施于人。除此之外的内容都在注释里,现在去学吧。"许多评论家想知道,为什么他从反面回答,而不是引用著名的圣经箴言"爱邻如爱己。"呢?
我的理解相当简单。谁都明白什么会伤害我们;谁都体验过一句吹毛求疵的话或一个轻蔑鄙视的眼神带来的痛苦有多深;谁都见到过一段负面评论如何伤害,甚至摧毁一段因缘。我们还知道,消极行为的弊远远大于利,无论是我们对别人还是别人对我们。
因此,改善关系的第一步,是杜绝污染婚姻环境的消极行为。在有毒废料场栽种玫瑰是于事无补的。我们必须首先清除毒物,然后才能美化环境。我们越注意防范可能伤害伴侣的微妙细节,就越能使我们的爱情之花绽放。
当您读完10项禁忌时,希望您做后面的练习。婚姻的挑战要求我们对3P作出承诺practice, persistence and patience(实践、毅力和耐心)。只要你照着去做,就会尝到甜头。即使其中一方为求变而不懈努力,其结果仍会相当显著。
1.不要把伴侣视作理所当然
婚姻可能是最有效也最具挑战性的塑造性格的过程。我们遇到的许多合作者让我们有机会实践自控、和善和尊重。例如,在某个特定时刻,您可能会面临选择:是勃然大怒,还是通过沟通释放胸中的怨气。在另一种场合,选择可能出现在以下两者之间:是不把她(他)放在眼里,还是心存感激。
你要么是不把配偶放在眼里的人,要么是看得到配偶善意的人,不可能两者兼有。
在这十条中,不准把伴侣视作理所当然是最独特的。实践它的唯一方法是摆出积极姿态,即学会感激。你要么是不把配偶放在眼里的人,要么是看得到配偶善意的人,不可能两者兼有。这也是克服克服自私的最佳办法。为了表明你确实有感激的愿望,你必须祛除三种消极态度 --- 盛气凌人、期望值过高和装聋作哑。
盛气凌人是指,你为我付出的一切都是应该的,我干吗要感激你。这种态度就是,我的需要第一,你必须迎合我。与盛气凌人密切相关的还有,如果我有期待,你就有义务来满足。怀着居高临下的期望值,我们就会把伴侣当作自己的延伸体,就象婴儿与母乳的关系 --- 他一哭闹,就期待立即有人来喂食。装聋作哑就是忽视或忘记显而易见的东西。我们时常对伴侣向我们释放的大大小小的善举视而不见。我怀疑正是盛气凌人的高期望值导致了装聋作哑。
如果你想知道自己是否没把伴侣当回事,我建议你先问问自己以下的问题:你对伴侣是否象对普通熟人或同事那样礼貌、和蔼、周到?对大多数人,答案是否定的。所以,再问自己一个问题:如果你的伴侣待你不客气、无视你的好意也不体谅你的需求,你有何感想?在回答之前,请想一想长者希勒尔的话"己所不欲勿施于人"。
练习
记录下伴侣为你所做的一切,无论大小,从早晨为你冲的那杯咖啡,到他(她)持家理财的高招。
问问自己,"在伴侣为你所做的那些事当中,你是否表示出感激并以何种方式表达的?"最有可能的是,你会发现,对于那么多的善意,你大概从未流露过感激之情。
尝试向自己承诺,花一周时间表达你的感激并关注发生的变化。你甚至可以写信给伴侣,说声谢谢。
2.不要胡乱猜忌
不要自以为你知道伴侣的想法和感受,很可能你是错的。没有根据的假设会造成不必要的冲突。
想象一下这种情景。你走进客厅,丈夫正坐在他最喜欢的椅子上,两眼瞪着墙。他双唇紧闭,牙关紧咬。你瞬间的反应:恐惧!"我做错什么了?他为什么如此生我的气?"你试着接近他,"怎么了,大卫?"你问道,预料他会把气撒到你头上。大卫慢慢地转过身。紧张、愤怒的神情开始融化,他伤心地说:"我失业了。""谢天谢地,"你几乎脱口而出,"他不是在生我的气。"
真相大白了,该女士才发现丈夫不是在生她的气。然而,有多少次我们胡思乱想,并始终信以为真,却不去探明真相?
在医治婚姻危机的过程中常常出现这种情景:捕风捉影的结果往往是查无实据,或者只有部分属实。例如,愤怒、挑剔的丈夫被认为憎恨他的妻子,可能实际上他是怀疑妻子不爱他而缺少安全感。冷淡、有排斥心理的妻子原来是一个非常悲伤的女人,因为失去母亲而肝肠寸断。因此不要胡乱猜测。去核实。
练习
找一张纸,不多加思索地完成以下句子:"我觉得我的伴侣认为我… …。"
写完之后,去核实你的猜测。
我猜想,你会发现你的许多猜测是无中生有。不过,也可能你的伴侣承认部分正确。这或许令人不快,但与现实打交道总比捕风捉影让人踏实。至少现在你能解决这个棘手问题了。
3. 不要指责
"这是你的错。是你让我这样做的。因为你,我们的关系才那么僵。你让我感觉糟透了。"说这种话多容易。"造成这场僵局,我错在哪里?"看着自己这样问却是那么的难。
"造成这场僵局,我错在哪里?"看着自己这样问是那么的难。
指责就是剥夺对方权利。在本质上,责备对方,就是在诉说对方控制了自己的感情和行为。双方的关系变成了巴甫洛夫和他的狗 --- 铃声一响,狗就流口水。妻子忘记打招呼,我就发飙。
在指责对方时,我们剥夺了对方认真考虑我们言论并作出周到反应的机会。我们不是在表达自己正当的不满情绪,而是在指责、威胁对方,必然招致类似的反击。其结果要么小冲突不断,要么全面战争爆发。于是我们在痛苦中明白,在爱情和战争中,一切都是公平的,没有赢家,婚姻也不例外。
那么,避免相互指责的解药是什么?答案很简单:承担自己的那份责任。然而,要付诸行动确是一种挑战。放弃自以为是的感觉很难,放弃逼迫对方认错也很难。让我告诉你婚姻的真谛:"一贯正确"是婚姻关系中的末等奖。你赢了,但婚姻输了。如果你要让婚姻取胜,试着用心寻找:引起冲突,你的那份责任。扪心自问,"我是不是在制造隔阂和伤害?"
练习
把你指责对方的方式全部列出来。例如:"都是因为你家里才乱七八糟"或者"莎拉混在坏人堆里,是因为你从来不花时间陪她"。
深刻反省并记下自己该负的责任。
寻求解决每种情况的办法。在后面的例子中,她可以考虑这样对她的丈夫说,"莎拉混在坏人堆里我很担心。我想谈谈我们能采取些什么措施。"她可能会惊喜地发现,受到尊重的丈夫马上认识到,他该花更多时间陪女儿。
4. 不要作解读
想想你会作何感想,如果你的伴侣告诉你,"现在我明白为什么你如此挑剔。你就像你老爸。我敢肯定,他对你的挑剔超过你对我。"你会不会把这种对你行为的所谓的分析,看作是有益的,能帮你促进自我认识和个人发展?
我想,答案是不言自明的。这些话似乎很有见地,但事实上,这些关切是裹着客观外衣的怨言。你可能相信,你了解对方最深刻的动机和行为上最微妙细小的差别。你可能认为,在解读对方行为时,你客观而有帮助。但我可以告诉你,深陷婚姻关系中的人没有谁能保持专业性的距离。我们的解读,更多的出于自我利益和改变对方的欲望。
我不希望妻子解读我的思想和感受。我希望她倾听。
也许,你同我一样。我不希望妻子解读我的思想和感受。我希望她倾听并听懂我的意思。我希望她交流时作为一个朋友,一个关心我的人。我希望她,通过回想我的倾诉、辨别我的感受,帮助我了解自己。
因此,为避免解读,让我开出两剂解药:首先,提防你的怨言,别让它在你分析对方行为之时乘机流露。其次,以开放、关爱的心态倾听。
练习
下一次你的伴侣同你交谈,一定要格外用心去明白她的意思。用积极的非语言的方式表明你在倾听。为此,您可以保持眼神接触,或握着伴侣的手或温柔地拥抱她。
时不时地发表些支持性言论,表明你理解对方的感受。可能的例子是,"我明白你为何生老板的气。如果我是你,肯定也会暴跳如雷的。"
5.不要言不由衷
我们常常不敢对伴侣说"不"。或许,你是怕她会生气。或许,如果你说"对不起,我不是故意的,"他会失望而你会开始内疚。所以,不主张自己的观点,不说出真实意图,我们最终会适得其反,心怀怨言。言不由衷是我们的关系出了故障,因为没有真诚就没有柔情蜜意。
为对方着想而付出并不意味着你必须牺牲自己的感情、需求去迎合伴侣。如果一味的迎合,你很可能觉得反感或产生了隔阂。向伴侣表达你的真实情感和愿望,让他把你当作真正的你,而不是你以为他想要的那个虚构的你。我之前引用过的圣人希勒尔说过与此相关的箴言:"我不为己,谁人为我?若仅为己,我为何物?若非此时,更待何时?"
也许,当你想说"不"的时候,就说"不";想说"是"的时候,就说"是",你的伴侣或许会觉得更安全,因为对方知道可以相信你所说的话。然而,更可能的是,你刚刚改变的举动会让对方感到威胁。你必须记住他还没习惯你的诚实。当她了解到你以前所有的"是"不少是言不由衷的,她会痛苦和惊讶。
重要的是要明白,任何时候你改变婚姻规则,必然会有冲突。这没关系。冲突往往是婚姻关系发展的必须。通过冲突,彼此会加深了解,建立更牢固的纽带。
如果你与配偶关系已经牢固,那么你对诚实的担当只会加深这种关系。如果还不牢固,建议你小心从事。在你敞开心扉之前,斟酌一下对方可能的反应。有些夫妇可能需要专业指导,帮助他们把惟对方是从过渡到彼此坦诚的关系。通往开诚布公更深境界之路往往是不平坦的,然而,你一旦达到,一切付出都是值得的。
练习
把下边的话写在纸上:"我担心告诉对方… …
列出清单,把最容易吐露的真相排在第一,次容易的第二,依次类推。
想象自己走过去告诉他(或)她真相。注意体会行动时的感受。让呼吸平静下来,轻轻告戒自己放松心情。当你在意念中做到之后,试着付诸行动。从清单上最容易那件做起。
婚姻十忌(二)
WideBridge @ yeeyan.com 2009年08月06日简介
有一首歌唱道:"我能想到最浪漫的事/就是和你一起慢慢变老/直到我们老得哪儿也去不了/你还依然把我当成手心里的宝"。学会化解婚姻矛盾,把彼此的关系摆在首位并承诺,用一生来浇灌爱情和幸福,美满婚姻就在你手中。
把深陷泥沼的婚姻转移到互相信任的安全地带
by Dr. Michael Tobin
6.不要把沉默当武器
沉默是杀伤性武器。比起诉诸于冷冰冰的沉默,夫妇之间还是进行非暴力的口水之战为好,至少可以讲出怨气的由头,而不是在沉默中想象双方的分歧有多大。沉默是一种情感放逐。我们通过彼此封闭、拒绝承认对方的存在而互相惩罚。愤怒的沉默传达的信息是我的合伙人有罪,如果她希望进一步与我沟通,那么她将不得不道歉,并请求我的原谅。它是一种功能强大的操控方式,但在婚姻中不应该有一席之地。
因此,为有效解决冲突,你需要学会用可以被聆听、被接受和被解决的方式表达不满。这种技巧在婚姻中极其重要,如果没有,小问题会酿成大灾难。
那么,如何学会把难以启齿的话说出口?如何向情绪对抗的伴侣倾诉?没有简单的答案。正如前面"不要言不由衷"所告戒的,学会如何解决婚姻难题,你可以寻找专业帮助。不过,在拿主意前,请做下面的练习来发泄怨气。
练习
- 把你的不满列出来。如:"我怨你… …"
- 写信把折磨你的问题告诉伴侣。请从积极、可爱之处写起。切莫抱怨指责。如果意识到自己有挑起事端的份,请告诉对方。当意识到你也在反思,对方会更坦诚地看待自己的责任。下面是信件样本:
亲爱的大卫,
我感到实在有必要同你谈谈。我爱你,我希望我们的婚姻步入正轨。我想告诉你,也许我伤害了你,但那决非我故意。我想做的是要让我们彼此靠得更近。但有些事我还无法释怀。请考虑我的建议,尽量不要反应过激。
… …
这对我很难,不过我已经跨出了这一步。我因为… … 而内心不安。
众所周知,愤怒的力量很大,能毁掉婚姻。因此,学会控制消极情绪对创造美满婚姻至关重要。第一步是控制怨气,而不是让怨气控制你,弄清自己怨什么,并且把怨气达到毒害程度前释放出来。一旦你越过了这些障碍,进入良性互动,你就朝创造美满婚姻迈出了一大步。
7. 不要耍脾气
耍脾气是用过行为间接地表达情绪。例如,小女孩可能用赖学、乱用药物或酗酒的方式,发泄对父母的怨气。她害怕流露真情实感,所以做出引人瞩目的举动,提醒或激怒父母。耍脾气,是一种极端的挑衅行为,对于建立完善的关系,显得既无知又尴尬。
诠释"我太生你气了"的方式,五花八门,不一而足
婚姻中常见的耍脾气方式有:把房间弄得一团糟、威胁要离婚、身心自虐、沮丧消沉、胡乱花钱甚至企图自杀。总之,诠释"我太生你气了"的方式,五花八门,不一而足。
最常见的耍脾气是消极对抗。典型的例子是不履行诺言、把对方的衣服人扔得满屋子都是、不负责任的乱花钱、袖手旁观以及对婚姻关系满不在乎。
那么,破解之道是什么?不出意外的话,就是直接对话 --- 学会如何向对方说出自己心里的感受。耍脾气掩盖了实质问题,同时把焦点转移到了该行为本身。
请做以下练习,锻炼你的直接沟通能力。
练习
- 找一个30分钟内不会被干扰的僻静、舒适地方。
- 闭上双眼,轻松自在地呼吸。集中注意力,体会吐故纳新的过程。
- 几分钟之后,问自己这个问题:"我为什么要用这种方法激怒他(她)?"譬如:把房间弄得一团糟、不负责任的乱花钱。又譬如:故意做事拖拉。注意:一定要诚实。
- 发现这些行为之后,把它们写下来。问自己是否想继续用这些方法发泄。如果答案是否定的,接着问自己:"这些行为能达到什么目的?能否找到更有效的方法,通过对话发泄怨气吗?
- 注意,此过程可能会挖出更深的恩怨。请记住,实事求是才是疗治婚姻伤口的最终和唯一途径。千万不要翻箱倒柜,当面立马将所有消极情绪都和盘托出。
8. 不要贬低对方
贬低是指用语言降低对方的自我价值。贬低的言论有:"你这人太懒。""你不负责任,不可信赖。""你是个不称职的父亲和糟糕的丈夫。"我们在界定伴侣缺点时,如此有创意,太令人惊奇了。我们每个人都可能编织一份详细清单,例举对方种种坏习惯、种种令人无法接受的性格特征和古怪行为。在气头上,利用这些细节的强大冲动无与伦比。
千万要克制。否则的话,对方肯定会有所反应,不是反击就是否认。这种反应既不解决问题,也不创造亲密。
不要说以‘你’开头的气话,试试从‘我’说起。譬如:"当… …时,我不满意。""我看不惯,当你做… …。"而不是这样:"你是个白痴!""你真苯!""你老把事情弄得一团糟!""你就像你妈。你们俩都是杂乱无章的低能。"这种言论根本不可能改变对方的行为。
假如你这样说,或许能凑效:"我说,格雷克,屋子脏兮兮的,让我看不下去。我知道你没闲着,也管不过来。不过,要是你能打扫一下,我会很感激的。"现在,我不敢肯定他不会辩解,但是我敢断定,比起你批评他懒散,他的反应会更温和。
练习
- 把你能想到的所有以"你"开头的气话列出来。
- 把"你"改成"我",并且写成"我感到 … … (你的感受),当你做 … … (对方的行为) 时。
- 试着跟对方说以"我"开头的话。
9. 不要发出威胁
婚姻关系遭受重创的可能性是巨大的。即使是最恩爱的关系也可以演变成势不两立如仇敌之间的恶斗。在充满风险的婚姻游戏中,没有什么比风平浪静更甜蜜,重要的是要双赢。辱骂和人身威胁是破坏婚姻的利剑。
无论何时何地,决不向伴侣发出口头或人身威胁
对于深陷争执的情侣,唯一的忠告是:寻求专业帮助,或者,假如受到人身攻击,立刻寻求保护。幸亏,我们大多数人不是那种残酷、毁灭性战役中的角斗士。而且我估计,每一个都渴望学会如何建立安宁恩爱的婚姻关系。如果是这样,让我斗胆发出严厉警告:永远不要威胁对方,包括吓唬、恐吓、辱骂,更不能拳脚相加。
无论你气有多大,必须向自己做出如下保证:无论何时何地,决不向伴侣发出口头或人身威胁。如果你尚不清楚威胁是什么东西,让我给你界定。它是会造成你伴侣身心俱痛的口头陈述、姿势表情和行为动作。其实,发出威胁的一方也觉得受到另一方极大的伤害。此时他(她)所能想到摆脱痛苦的唯一出路,就是让对方像也自己一样痛苦不堪。如果觉得化干戈为玉帛比让对方听到威胁更重要,你就已经从灾难性危机中跨出了出来,尽管是一小步。
假如我来问问那些闹得不可开交的夫妇,是否真想伤害对方,他们中大多数一定会这样回答:"完全不是。只是当她不听我时,我才变得非常沮丧,失去了理智。"或者:"我恨我们之间所发生的一切。但是我费了九牛二虎之力想让他明白我的意思,他根本不愿听。结果,我想做的就是伤害他了。"有些夫妇为了摆脱痛苦和挫折,诉诸情感和肢体暴力,以为这是自我保护的唯一方式。
练习
假如发现自己在生对方的气,请做下面的消气练习。不过,练习之前,给你提个醒。或许你们双方都有必要寻求专业帮助以消除积怨。此外,若遭遇人身攻击,唯一的办法就是立即寻求救助和保护。
- 找个不受打扰的房间,用手或球拍击打枕头,直至怒气开始消散。也许击打时喊叫有助于排解怨气,不过建议你在无人听见的情况下做。
- 其次,列出你怨恨的原因。譬如:"我怨你因为… …。"
- 写信告诉对方你的苦恼。试着不要抱怨,但可以谈谈你的孤寂和受到的伤害,谈谈彼此关系中的缺失。
10. 不要扯入第三方
某些方面,对峙中双方的本能反应很像两个准备交战的国家,会寻找联盟,以巩固各自的阵地。然而,所不同的是,冲突中的夫妇寻找联盟常常是在无意识下进行的。
在冲突中,往往是感到最不舒坦的那一方最终退却,去寻找能支持他(她)的同盟。用婚姻心理学术语,这被称作‘第三方’。譬如,割断与丈夫情感联络的妻子倍感孤独,会增加同孩子的交流,以降低内心的痛苦。孩子对家长的遭遇极其敏感,也许会成为某一方的"情感保姆"。而扮演这种角色的孩子常有被撕裂的感觉,并在某种程度上因不得不袒护某一方感到怨恨。
只要有第三方的存在,夫妻双方就不可能直面消除问题的根源
然而,孩子的行为也时常在不知不觉地稳固父母间的关系。他们仿佛是超级雷达,能捕捉到父母婚姻中的痛苦。他们会作出反应,如滥用药物和学习成绩下降,目的是让父母分散对婚姻矛盾的注意力。可以说,为了转移父母眼前的痛苦,孩子们的创意举动层出不穷。
只要有第三方的存在,夫妻双方就不可能直面消除问题的根源。第三方也是一个障碍,会阻挡夫妻间真正亲密与恩爱的恢复。然而,要让第三方退出绝非轻而易举。
互相信任与亲密无间是根治第三方卷入的良方。问题是:被争执、排斥和猜疑死死缠绕的夫妇如何才能转危为安?如果没有互相信任作基础,怎么去发展互信关系呢?建议你采取以下步骤,朝着那个方向努力。
练习
- 明确第三方的身份,尽量减低其个人情感掺和的程度。
- 对于婚姻中的缺憾不要隐瞒。写下你想作的调整。譬如,假如你没有花时间陪对方,可以写:"我想每星期花一个晚上与你单独在一起。"
- 写信告诉对方婚姻中什么问题让你苦恼。不要指责,同时谈谈你打算如何改善彼此关系。
- 几天之后,试着接近对方,讨论信中的问题。如果对方反应积极,就着手改善关系。要获得成功,可以向专业人士求助。如果你的伴侣愿意,寻找一个合格的婚姻治疗师。
婚姻中十件忌讳事相互间有一致和内在的联系。处理婚姻矛盾,有具体的原则和技巧,而且,每个人都有能力学会他们。只要双方把彼此的关系摆在首位,只要双方愿意承诺,用一生的时间来培育爱情和幸福,美满婚姻就在你手中。
我在婚姻里犯的五个错误
红底白叶子 @ yeeyan.com 2009年07月30日简介
婚姻几乎是每个人都要经历的阶段,虽说幸福的人都是一样的幸福,但是在婚姻里总会多多少少出现一些问题,那么,你找到答案了吗
我关于"幸福"课题里所包括的12个主题中,有一个就是婚姻。对我来说,和很多人一样,婚姻是生活和幸福中最重要的部分。当我开始这个课题时,我也找出了我想要做出的变化--就像为保持这些变化而做出的决定--我发现在我的婚姻中,有5个特别的误区。
下面,和我想出的办法一起,我尝试着去解决他们。
1. 我过于期待赞赏。你想象不到我是多么期望得到别人的赞赏和认可!我一直追求能把家务做到完美。但我的丈夫却不那么在意,这让我不爽和生气。我想出了一个好点子。我过去就告诉自己我所做的一切都是为了他。--"他看到我把书整理好该有多开心啊","他知道我终于找到宿营的打包箱该有多高兴啊"等等这些。--但是他并不领情,我立刻就疯了。现在我告诉自己我做这些事情,是因为我想做。"喔,看着碗柜多棒","看我多有调理,提前就把日用品都收拾好了"。因为我是为我自己做,他不必留意。这听起来有点以自我为中心,但是确实管用。
2. 总爱教训人。我是个火爆脾气,非常容易发火的人—但是我的丈夫非常不喜欢我对他大吼大嚷(真实惊奇)。我尝试了很多方法来控制我的脾气。我不让自己太饿或者太冷(我很容易就有这样的感觉);我努力让家井井有条,因为只要乱了一点,我就抓狂了;当他为了要我消消气逗我笑,我就努力配合他笑笑;我尽量控制自己说话的声音,让他感觉我心情不错,而不是在急躁地指责他。不过,让我为难的是,还没有多大的进展。
3. 本性不改,我就生气。这点非常非常难。从我幸福课题中学到的一点就是,除了你自己,你谁也改变不了,然而我又特别喜欢起改变我丈夫的某些他根本不愿意改变的习惯。他不肯好好地回我的电邮。他总是做很多诱惑我的甜点,等等等等。现在我改了,遇到这些事我不像以前那样火冒三丈,转而努力去提醒我自己他其实也没那么多毛病。
4. 斤斤计较。我是个斤斤计较的人,老是算计着谁谁做了什么。"我打扫了厨房,你就该去整理储藏室"—这之类的事情。我发现了两个方法来解决这个麻烦。第一,我提醒自己当心下意识的要求过高现象。比如,在对比他人时,我们会无意识地高估自己的贡献,或者技术。这很容易理解,因为我们当然会觉得自己比别人做的多。根据Jonathan Haidt的‘幸福感假说’,"当夫妻双方估计自己和对方各做了多少家务时,他们总共估计的会超过百分之120."我抱怨给孩子找保姆花了很多时间,还付了很多账单,但是我忽视了修车,买食品也占用了我丈夫很多时间。
不难发现,要求过高会带来埋怨,还会觉得自己的负担越来越多。所以现在每当我有类似于"我是这唯一为什么什么事操心的人",或者"为什么只有我想去怎么样怎么样"这些想法的时候,我提醒自己还有很多事我没有做。第二,牢记我精神导师,法国Lisieux的St. Therese说过的话"你爱他,就不要计较那么多。"这句箴言是我第11条个人戒律的基础:不要仅仅计较。
5. 把我的丈夫想当然了。因为很容易忽视我丈夫所做的一些小事(参见第4条),我很容易地久忘记了他的有点,取而代之的是抓住他的小毛病不撒手(参见第3条)。比如,我发现尽管平心静气地说话很难,我的丈夫就有这个超赞的性格,说话几乎从不刁难我。我努力记着,我爱他身上的那些有点,把让我心烦的琐事抛到脑后。说起来容易做起来难啊。多亲吻他几次,多拥抱他几回,多爱抚他一会,这些我下过决心要做的事,很有效得让我一直感受到爱的温暖,心存感激。
你的婚姻,或者长期的恋爱中有哪些误会呢?有没有找到解决的办法呢?
10 Things Never to do in a Marriage, Part 1
Transform a relationship mired in negativity into one based on trust and safety.by Dr. Michael Tobin
Love is a very delicate feeling. It flees from an atmosphere filled with blame, anger and sarcasm and grows in an environment of respect, acceptance and honesty. The following 10 marital proscriptions -- if followed consciously and conscientiously-- will transform a relationship mired in negativity into one based on trust and safety.
Why a list of marital taboos rather than a positive "to do" list of marital suggestions? The following Talmudic story answer the question:
A non-believer confronted the great sage Hillel, the Elder, and demanded that he teach him the entire Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel agreed and said the following: "What's hateful to yourself don't do to another. Everything else is commentary. Now go and learn." Many commentators have wondered why he chose to answer in the negative rather than quoting the famous Biblical proscription "To love thy neighbor as thyself."
My understanding is quite simple. We understand what it is that hurts us; we've experienced how painful a critical statement or disdainful look can feel; we've seen how one negative comment can harm or even destroy a relationship and we know that the negative things that we do or that are done to us can far outweigh our or others' positive behaviors.
Therefore, the first step in improving a relationship is to eradicate the negative behaviors that continually pollute the marital environment. It doesn't help to plant rose bushes in a toxic waste field. First, we have to clean up the poison and then we can beautify the area. The more we sensitize ourselves to the subtle ways that we have hurt our partners, the more we enable our feelings of love to blossom.
As you read each of the following 10 Things, I encourage you to practice the exercises. The challenge of marriage demands a commitment to the three P's -- practice, persistence and patience. Just do it, and you'll begin to see the benefit. Even if only one of the partners in the relationship makes a concerted effort to change, the results will still be quite significant.
1. DON'T TAKE YOUR PARTNER FOR GRANTED
Marriage is probably the most effective and challenging training program for developing character. Many of the encounters we have with our partners afford us an opportunity to practice self-control, kindness and respect. At any given moment, for example, you could be confronted with a choice between lashing out in anger or communicating your resentment. At another moment, the choice might be between taking your partner for granted or expressing appreciation.You're either taking your spouse for granted or your acknowledging her kindness. There's no middle ground.
The injunction to stop taking your partner for granted is unique among the 10 Things. The only way to fulfill it is by performing a positive act, namely showing appreciation. You're either taking your spouse for granted or your acknowledging her kindness. There's no middle ground. It is also the best means for overcoming selfishness. In order to reach the point where you have a real desire to express appreciation you have to uproot three negative attitudes -- a sense of entitlement, unrealistic expectations and conscious amnesia.
Entitlement is that sense that whatever you do for me I deserve, so why bother thanking you. It's the attitude that my needs come first and it's your job to meet them. Closely aligned with a sense of entitlement is the attitude that if I expect it, you're obligated to do it. With entitlement and expectations, we relate to our partners as if they are extensions of ourselves, not unlike a baby's relationship to his mother's breast. When he cries, he expects to be fed immediately. Conscious amnesia or mindlessness is the art of ignoring or forgetting the obvious. We become oblivious to those small and large kindnesses that our partners do for us. I suspect a sense of entitlement or expectation leads to a state of conscious amnesia.
If you wish to know if you're taking your partner for granted, then I suggest you ask yourself the following question: Are you as polite, kind and considerate to your partner as you are to a casual acquaintance or to a colleague? For most of us, the answer is no. So, ask yourself this question: How would you feel if your partner treated you impolitely, ignored your kindnesses and was inconsiderate of your needs? Before answering, remember the words of Hillel the Elder, "What's hateful to you, don't do to another."
Exercise
Record those things that your partner does for you -- both large and small. Try to include everything from the cup of coffee he makes for you in the morning to the efficient way that she manages the finances.
Ask yourself, "Among those things that your partner does for you, do you show appreciation and in what manner do you express it?" Most likely, you'll discover that for a good of portion of the kindnesses on the list you've probably never expressed your gratitude.
Try committing yourself to a week of expressing your appreciation and notice the change. You might even consider writing a letter of appreciation to your partner.
2. DON'T MIND-READ
Don't assume that you know what your partner is thinking and feeling. There's a good chance you could be wrong, and wrong assumptions cause unnecessary conflict.
Imagine this situation. You walk into the living room and there's your husband sitting on his favorite chair glaring at the wall. His lips are tight; his jaw is clenched. Your immediate reaction: fear! "What did I do? Why is he so angry at me?" You tentatively approach him, "What's the matter, David?" you ask, expecting him to pour his wrath upon you. David slowly turns toward you. The tense, angry look begins to melt and he says sadly, "I've been laid off." "Thank God," you almost blurt out, "at least it wasn't me."
In this case, the woman checked out her assumptions and discovered that her husband wasn't upset with her. Yet, how often does it happen that we make the wrong assumptions and just go on believing them without ever discovering if they're true?
It often happens during the process of marital therapy that assumptions, illusions and fantasies are exposed as false or only partially true. For example, the angry, critical husband who supposedly hates his wife might in fact be an insecure man who is convinced that his wife doesn't love him. Perhaps, as in one case that I know of, a distant, rejecting wife turned out to be a very sad woman, grieving the loss of her mother. Don't assume. Check it out.
Exercise
Take a piece of paper and without thinking too much about it, complete the following sentence: "I assume that my partner thinks or feels.... about me."
After you compile your list, try checking out your assumptions.
I suspect that you'll discover that many of your assumptions are incorrect. However, it is possible that your partner will acknowledge the validity of some of your assumptions. This may be painful but it's far better to deal with reality than unverified assumptions. At least now, you have the possibility of resolving the issue.
3. DON'T BLAME
How easy it is to say, "It's your fault. You made me do it. It's because of you that things are so bad between us. You're the reason I feel so miserable." It's so hard to look at ourselves and ask, "What's my part in creating the difficulties between us?"
It's so hard to look at ourselves and ask, "What's my part in creating the difficulties between us?"
Blaming is a form of disempowerment. In essence, when I blame I am saying to my partner that she controls my feelings and behavior. My relationship to her is like that of Pavlov's dog -- the bell rings, the dog salivates. My wife forgets to say hello, and I blow up.
When we blame, we deny our partner the opportunity to think seriously about our words and to respond in a thoughtful manner. Instead of expressing our legitimate grievances and feelings, we accuse and threaten, which only invites a similar response. The result is either a skirmish or an all out war, and, as we so painfully understand, all is fair in love and war and marriage is both.
So, what's the antidote to blaming? The answer is simple: Take responsibility for yourself. Putting it into practice, however, is a challenge. It's hard to give up that feeling of being right. It's so difficult to let go of that need to force a confession out of our partners. I'll let you in on a marital truth: Being "right" in a relationship is the booby prize. You win; the relationship loses. If you want the relationship to win, try looking hard at what your part is in creating the conflict. Ask yourself, "What am I doing to create distance and hurt?"
Exercise
Write a list of all the ways you blame your spouse. For example, "It's because of you that the house is a mess" or "You're the reason Sara is running around with a bad crowd. It's because you never spend any time with her."
Take a good hard look at yourself and record what you're responsible for.
Look for solutions in each of these situations. In the last example, she might consider telling her husband, "I'm worried that Sara is running around with a bad crowd. I'd like to talk about what we can do about it." She might be pleasantly surprised to discover that when approached respectfully, her husband, on his own, will realize that he needs to spend more time with his daughter.
4. DON'T INTERPRET
Think about how you would feel if your partner were to tell you, "Now I understand why you're so critical. You're just like your father. I'm sure he was even more critical of you than you are of me." Would you experience this so-called analysis of your behavior as helpful, as contributing to your self-knowledge and personal development?
I think the answer is self-evident. The words might appear to contain insightful information, but, in fact, they are resentments cloaked in a garment of objective concern. You might believe you understand your partner's deepest motivations and the subtlest nuances of his behavior, and you might think you're being objective and helpful when you interpret his behavior, but I can tell you that nobody who is deeply involved in a relationship can maintain professional distance. More often than not, our interpretations come from a place of self-interest and a desire to change our partners.
I don't want my wife to interpret what I think and feel. I want her to listen.
Perhaps, you're like me. I don't want my wife to interpret what I think and feel. I want her to listen. I want her to hear. I want her to respond as a friend, as someone who is concerned about me. I want her to help me to understand myself by reflecting back what I am saying and by identifying the feelings that I am expressing.
Therefore, in order to avoid interpreting, let me suggest the following two antidotes: First, be clear about your resentments and be careful not to express them covertly through an analysis of your partner's behavior. Second, listen in an open, loving manner.
Exercise
The next time your partner talks to you, work extra hard at trying to understand her. Practice active listening by non-verbally indicating that you're hearing him. You can do this by maintaining eye contact and holding your partner's hand or embracing her in a caring, non-sexual manner.
Periodically, respond with supportive statements that acknowledge how your partner feels. An example might be, "I understand how angry you are at your boss. If I were you, I'd sure be furious."
5. DON'T SAY YES WHEN YOU MEAN NO
We're often afraid to say no to our partners. Perhaps, you're scared that she'll become angry, or, maybe, if you were to say "I'm sorry, I just don't want to do that," he'd be disappointed and you'd start feeling guilty. So, instead of asserting ourselves and saying what we want, we end up doing the opposite and feeling resentful. The problem with saying yes when we mean no is that we stop being real in the relationship. There's no intimacy in a relationship without honesty.
Becoming other-centered and giving does not mean that you have to sacrifice your feelings, wants and needs in order to satisfy your partner. If you do, you may very well feel resentful or distant. By expressing your true feelings and desires to your spouse, you enable him to relate to the real you rather than to some fictitious version of what you think he wants. The same Hillel, the Elder, whom I quoted earlier, said something very relevant and profound: "If I am not for me who am I? And, if I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, when?" It may be that when you start to say no when you mean no, you'll say yes when you mean yes and your spouse might feel safer knowing that he can trust what you're saying. More likely, however, the change in your behavior will at first be threatening to your partner. Remember he's not used to your honesty. She might be painfully surprised to learn that not all your yeses were indeed yeses.
It's important to know that any time you change the rules in a relationship there's bound to be conflict. That's okay. Conflict is often necessary for a relationship to grow. Through conflict, two people can create a deeper understanding of one another and develop a stronger bond.
If you already have a strong connection with your spouse, then your commitment to honesty will only deepen that relationship. If you don't, I recommend that you proceed carefully. Before you start being totally honest, try assessing what your partner's reaction will be. Some couples may need professional guidance to help them make the transition from a relationship based on wanting the other's approval to a relationship grounded in truth. The process of reaching a deeper level of honesty is often bumpy, but once you arrive, it's well worth it.
Exercise
Write the following on a piece of paper: "I'm afraid to tell my partner...."
Prioritize the list, one being the easiest of your truths to reveal, two the second easiest and so on.
Imagine approaching your partner and telling him or her the truth. Notice how you feel as you do that. Try breathing easily and gently tell yourself to relax. When you're able to visualize speaking to your partner, then take the risk to do it in reality. Start with the easiest (1) and go down your list.
Published: Saturday, December 27, 2003
10 Things Never to do in a Marriage, Part 2
6. Don't Use Silence As A Weapon
Silence is a deadly weapon. It's far better for a couple to engage in a non-violent, verbal fight where at least they can express what's bothering them than to resort to an icy silence where all they can do is imagine how many different ways they're angry with one other.
Silence is a form of emotional banishment. We punish our partners by cutting them off and refusing to acknowledge their existence. An angry silence communicates the message that my partner is the guilty party and if she wishes any further contact with me, then she will have to apologize and ask for my forgiveness. It is a powerful form of control and manipulation and has no place in a marriage.
Therefore, in order to resolve conflicts effectively, you need to learn how to express resentments in a way that can be heard, acknowledged and resolved. That skill is of utmost importance in a marriage; without it, small problems become major catastrophes.
So, how do you learn to say all those things that are so hard to say? And, how do you say them to a partner who may be reactive? There are no simple answers and like with the previous injunction of "Don't Say Yes, When You Mean No," you may need to seek professional help to learn how to resolve your marital difficulties. However, before you make that decision try the following exercise to help you to express your anger.
Exercise
- Write a list of your resentments in the following way: "I resent you for x."
- Write a letter to your partner about what's bothering you. Try to start from a positive, loving place. Be careful not to blame or accuse. If you are aware of what your part is in creating problems, tell him. Your partner will be much more open to looking at his part if he feels you're doing the same. Here is a small sample of a potential letter:
Dear David,
I feel a real need to talk about us. I love you and want our marriage to work. What I'm about to tell you might hurt you. It's not my intention. What I want to do is for us to be close. But there are things I want to get off my chest. Please think about what I'm writing and try hard not to react with anger.
This is hard for me but here goes. I am upset with you for...
We all know that anger is a powerful emotion that can destroy a relationship. Thus, learning how to master your negative feelings is an essential skill for creating a wonderful relationship. The first step to controlling your anger, rather than having your anger control you, is to recognize your resentments and to express them before they reach a toxic level. When you give yourself permission to let go of these three obstacles to good communication, you will have made a giant leap toward creating a loving marriage.
7. Don't Act Out
Acting out is indirectly expressing feelings and emotions through behavior. For example, a teenage girl might act out by failing in school or using drugs or alcohol as a way of expressing her anger towards her parents. She's afraid to express her true feelings so she resorts to attention-getting behaviors that alarm and infuriate her parents. Acting out behavior, as provocative as it can be, is really an unconscious and awkward attempt at establishing a relationship.
There is no end to the ways that we have of saying, "I'm really angry at you."
In marriage, couples act out by making messes, by withdrawing, by being emotionally and physically abusive, by becoming depressed, by being irresponsible with money and even by attempting suicide. There is no end to the ways that we have of saying, "I'm really angry at you."
One of the most common forms of acting out behavior is by being passive aggressive. Some typical examples of passive aggressive behavior are promising to do something and then failing to do it, leaving your clothes strewn around the room, being irresponsible with money, playing helpless and being uninterested in marital relations.
So, what is the solution for acting out behavior? The answer, not surprisingly, is direct communication -- learning how to say to your partner what's really on your mind. Acting out behavior masks the real problem and instead focuses the couple on the behavior itself.
To practice your skill at direct communication, try the following exercise:
Exercise
- Find a quiet, comfortable place where you will not be disturbed for 30 minutes.
- Close your eyes and breathe easily and effortlessly. Stay focused on your breathing. In a relaxed manner, observe your breath as you inhale and exhale.
- After a few minutes ask yourself the following question: "What is it that I do that bothers my partner?" For example, it might be the mess you leave; the way you spend money, or your lateness. Be honest with yourself.
- After you've become aware of these behaviors, write them down. Ask yourself if you wish to continue to use these methods to express your feelings. If the answer is "No," then ask yourself, "What purpose do these behaviors serve and what would be a more effective way of communicating the feelings that these behaviors are expressing?
- Be aware that this process might uncover some deep hurts and resentments. Remember that dealing with the truth is ultimately the only way to heal your relationship. Be careful not to dump all of your negative feelings on your partner at once.
8. Don't Discount
A discount is a remark designed to reduce your partner's self worth. Some examples of discounting statements are: "You're so lazy." "You're irresponsible and untrustworthy." "You're a terrible father and an awful husband." It's amazing how creative we can be when it comes to identifying our partner's blemishes. Most likely, each one of us can compile a detailed list of our partners' bad habits, unacceptable character traits and generally difficult behaviors. In the midst of an argument, the temptation to use this information can be overwhelmingly powerful.
Try to resist. If not, you can be sure your partner will react in one of two ways: he or she will either respond in kind or deny. Neither reaction solves problems or creates intimacy.
Instead of making angry statements that begin with "You," try making "I" statements. Examples of "I" statements are: "I feel angry when..." "I resent it when you do such and such a thing..." Not "You are such an idiot! "You are such a slob!" "You always leave messes!" "You're just like your mother. Both of you are disorganized incompetents." Her behavior won't change because of that piece of feedback.
However, it might, if you were to say, "You know, Greg, it bothers me when the house is not clean. I know you're busy and I know it's hard for you but I would appreciate it if you could clean it up." Now, I'm not promising that he won't be defensive, but I do believe he'll be less reactive than if you were to criticize him for his sloppy behavior.
Exercise
- Make a list of all the angry "you" statements that you can think of.
- Change the "you" statements into "I" statements by writing "I feel x (your feeling) when you do y (your partner's behavior).
- Practice making "I" statements with your partner.
9. Don't Threaten
The creative and destructive potentials of a marital relationship are enormous. Even the most loving relationship can degenerate into a vicious struggle between bitter enemies. In this dangerous marital game, nothing is sweeter than getting even and the only thing that counts is winning. Verbal and physical threats and abuse become the weapons of marital discord.
Under no circumstances whatsoever will I at any time make a verbal or physical threat toward my spouse.
The only advice you can give to a couple that is engaged in such a struggle is: Seek professional help or, in the case of physical abuse, find immediate protection. Fortunately, most of us are not contestants in such a fierce and destructive battle. More than that, I'm assuming that each of you wants to learn how to create a peaceful and loving relationship. If so, let me be bold enough to offer a stern warning. Never threaten your partner or act in any way that frightens, intimidates or abuses her.
No matter how angry you are, make the following pledge to yourself: Under no circumstances whatsoever will I at any time make a verbal or physical threat toward my spouse. If it's not clear to you what a threat is, let me define it as any statement, gesture or act that is designed to create physical or emotional pain in your partner. A partner who threatens is a partner who feels deeply hurt and wounded by his spouse. The only way she knows to relieve her suffering is by making her spouse feel as miserable as she. If getting even seems more important than being heard, then you're one small step from a dangerous crisis.
If I were to ask most couples in an abusive relationship if they really want to hurt each other, they would invariably respond with the following answers: "No, I just get so frustrated when she doesn't hear me that I just lose it." Or, "I hate what's happening to us, but I've tried so hard to get him to understand me and he just refuses to listen. So, now all I want to do is hurt him." Out of pain and frustration, some couples resort to emotional and physical violence, believing it to be the only way they can protect themselves.
Exercise
If you find yourself filled with anger toward your spouse, then do the following rage reduction exercise. However, before proceeding I want to offer a word of caution. It may be necessary for you and your partner to receive professional help in order to learn how to manage your deep resentments. Additionally, in the case of physical abuse, the only solution is to seek immediate help and shelter.
- Go into a room where you won't be disturbed and with either your hands or with a tennis racket beat a pillow until you feel your rage dissipating. It might be helpful to yell or scream as you're beating the pillow. I would only recommend you do that if no one will hear you.
- Next, list all the ways you resent your partner. Start each sentence with "I resent you for..."
- Write a letter to your partner and tell him or her what's bothering you. Try not to blame but write about your hurt and loneliness and about what's missing in the relationship.
10. Don't Triangulate
In some ways a couple in conflict instinctively behaves like two nations preparing for war. In each case, the warring parties create alliances in order to strengthen their respective positions. Where they differ is that a couple in conflict sometimes develops those alliances unconsciously.
In a relationship, the partner that feels the most discomfort eventually withdraws from the other and finds a third person who functions as a supportive ally. In the lingo of marital psychology, this is called triangulation. For example, a wife who is feeling lonely and cut off from her husband might increase her involvement with one or more of the children as a way of decreasing her unhappiness. A child who is especially sensitive to the suffering of one of the parents might decide to become that parent's "caregiver". A child in that role usually feels torn apart and on some level resentful about having to parent the parent.
As long as there are triangles, it's impossible for a couple to deal directly with the source of their problem.
Sometimes a teenager who is acting out will unconsciously stabilize the relationship between the parents. It is as if the teen has super radar that picks up on the parents' marital distress and responds by drawing each of them away from their marital problems toward his drug abuse or her school failure. There is no end to the creative ways children can act out in order to divert their parents from dealing with the uncomfortable truth about their marriage.
As long as there are triangles, it's impossible for a couple to deal directly with the source of their problem. It is an obstacle to intimacy and real marital love. However, it's difficult for the partner and the third person to withdraw from their involvement with one another.
The cure for triangulation is trust and intimacy. The question is: How does a couple whose relationship is marked by conflict, rejection and mistrust turn it around? If there's no trust, how do you develop a trusting relationship? I am going to propose the following steps to help you move in that direction:
Exercise
- Identify with whom you are triangulated and make an effort to reduce the level of emotional involvement with that individual.
- Be straight about what's missing in your marriage. Write down what you would like to change in your relationship. For example, if you hardly spend any time with one another, you might write, "I would like to spend one evening a week alone with you."
- Write a letter to your partner and tell him or her what's bothering you about the relationship. Avoid blaming and write about how you would like to improve the marriage.
- After a few days, approach your partner and try to talk about what you've written. If the response is positive, then begin the work on improving your relationship. You may need professional help to succeed. If your partner is willing, look for a competent marital therapist.
There is a consistent, underlying assumption that forms the basis for the Ten Things: there are specific principles and skills in marriage and that everyone is capable of learning them. A beautiful marriage is within the reach of most couples who choose to make their relationship a priority and who are willing to commit themselves to a lifelong training program on how to create love and happiness in their lives.
Published: Saturday, January 03, 2004
Five Mistakes I Make in My Marriage
Five Mistakes I Make in My Marriage
5 mistakes I make in my marriage and how I try to address them.
One of the main twelve themes of my happiness project is marriage. For me, as with many people, my marriage is one of the most central elements in my life and my happiness. When I started my happiness project, and I reflected about the changes I wanted to make -- as well as the resolutions I wanted to keep in order to bring about those changes -- I realized I had five particular problem areas in my marriage.
Here they are, along with the strategies I try to use to address them:
1. My demand for gold stars. Oh, how I crave appreciation and recognition! I always want that gold star stuck to my homework. But my husband just isn’t very good at handing out gold stars, and that makes me feel angry and unappreciated. I figured out a good strategy. I used to tell myself I was doing nice things for him – "He’ll be so happy to see that I put all the books away," "He’ll be so pleased that I finally got the trunk packed for camp" etc. – then I’d be mad when he wasn’t appreciative. Now I tell myself that I’m doing these things because I want to do them. "Wow, the kitchen cabinets look great!" "I’m so organized to have bought all the supplies in advance!" Because I do things for myself, he doesn’t have to notice. This sounds like a more self-centered approach, but it’s really much better.
2. Using a snappish tone. I have a very short fuse and become irritable extremely easily – but my husband really doesn’t like it when I snap at him (big surprise). I’ve done a lot to try to keep my temper in check. I don’t let myself get too hungry or too cold (I fall into these states very easily); I try to keep our apartment in reasonable order, because a mess makes me crabby; when he tries to make a joke out of my temper, I try to laugh along; I try to control my voice to keep it light and cheery instead of accusatory and impatient. Confession: I haven’t made much headway here.
3. Getting angry about a fixed trait. This is very, very tough. One of the things I’ve learned from my happiness project is that you can’t change anyone but yourself, and while there are some things I’d love to change about my husband, those things aren’t going to change. He isn’t going to get better about answering my emails. He is going to keep making rich desserts that tempt me. Etc. Instead of getting all worked up, as I often do, I’m trying to remind myself of HOW SMALL his flaws are, in the scheme of things.
4. Score-keeping. I’m a score-keeper, always calculating who has done what. "I cleaned up the kitchen, so you have to run to the store" -- that sort of thing. I’ve found two ways to try to deal with this tendency. First, I remind myself of the phenomenon of unconscious over-claiming; i.e., we unconsciously overestimate our contributions or skills relative to other people’s. This makes sense, because of course we’re far more aware of what we do than what other people do. According to Jonathan Haidt’s The Happiness Hypothesis, "when husbands and wives estimate the percentage of housework each does, their estimates total more than 120 percent." I complain about the time I spend organizing babysitting or paying bills, but I overlook the time my husband spends dealing with our car or food-shopping.
It’s easy to see that over-claiming leads to resentment and an inflated sense of entitlement. So now when I find myself thinking, "I’m the only one around here who bothers to…" or "Why do I always have to be the one who…?" I remind myself of all the tasks I don’t do. Second, I remind myself of the words of my spiritual master, St. Therese of Lisieux: "When one loves, one does not calculate." That precept is the basis for my 11th Personal Commandment: No calculation.
5. Taking my husband for granted. Just as I find it easily to overlook the chores done by my husband (see #4), it’s easy for me to forget to appreciate his many virtues and instead focus on his flaws (see #3). For example, although I find it hard to resist using an irritable tone, my husband almost never speaks harshly, and that's really a wonderful trait. I’m trying to stay alert to all the things I love about him, and let go of my petty annoyances. This is easier said than done. I’ve found that working to keep my resolution to Kiss more, hug more, touch more is an effective way to help me stay in loving, appreciative frame of mind.
What are some mistakes you make in your marriage or long-term relationship? Have you found any great strategies for addressing them?
-fin-