Married co-hosts, Danielle K and Garrett J White, discuss the art of Crucial Conversations in this week’s episode of the Date Your Wife podcast. Their first encounter and first kiss are revealed as they take a trip down memory lane, and Garrett introduces the Triangle, which doubles as a favorite sex move of one of the Warriors as well as a communication strategy – a strategy which has proven to be a total game changer for Garrett and their marriage.

Every week married couple Danielle and Garrett J White share insights and perspectives from within their own lives regarding the following topics discussed each month: Week 1: Sex Week 2: Money Week 3: Parenting Week 4: Communication

In This Week’s Podcast…. COMMUNICATION Point #1: First Kiss

Garrett: Seventeen times we went out for ice cream until you decided you couldn’t handle it anymore. I played the “I don’t give a fuck” game, you came after me, our lips brushed, then you landed one on me. I had a pattern of burning relationships with girls very quickly, like within two weeks. But with you, I really wanted to kiss you, I really wanted to have sex with you, and I still want to have sex with you all the time.
Danielle: We were laying in your bed. After a two-hour shoulder massage, I knew I had to be classy and not just go in for the kill. You lined your face up with mine, your lips were nuzzling mine, and I remember thinking, “I don’t know what this is but I better go in.”

QUESTION

What is the memory of your first kiss with your spouse or partner?

Point #2: The Triangle

Garrett: The triangle is one of the natural things Danielle does when it comes to putting herself in another person’s shoes. When tensions are high, when there’s a lot on the line, and when shit is spicy, Danielle has the ability to diffuse the situation. She did this for a decade or longer before I was able to.
Danielle: When I find myself getting emotionally riled up, I don’t like being in that space, so I place myself in the other person’s shoes. I try to envision it from their perspective, which helps me calm down. I may not agree with them, but it helps me understand why they’re acting the way they are, and why I’m being triggered by them.

QUESTION

What happens in your conversations when you put yourself in another’s shoes?

Point #3: Crucial Conversations

Garrett: The first step in having crucial conversations is to get clear about what Iwant from the conversation. The next step is, what do I want for my wife in this situation? And then the third, what do I want for us as a couple in this situation?
As I answered these questions, it gave me clear distinctions and actions that would force me to not be right, and force me to let go of things. For ten years, I fought to be right, over getting what I wanted

QUESTION

Where in your world are you not clear about what you want? How is this affecting the actions you’re taking inside of your relationship?

Point #4: What Does My Partner Want?

Garrett: I used to think, “What the fuck is wrong with you, Danielle? Why aren’t we having sex?” I wasn’t holding a safe space for Danielle. The safe space is a place you hold for another person for safe dialogue, where you just let them talk. I couldn’t hold open that space at all, especially with Danielle, particularly when I was feeling triggered sexually. I would become this crazy person. I would get clear about what I wanted but I had no concern for what she wanted
Danielle: I think that guys have this belief that because they’re providing, their wives should naturally want to have sex. As women, yes, it’s great that you’re providing for us, but we want you to want to spend time with us. Guys want action and sex, women want guys to want to hang out with them without the pressure of having sex.

QUESTION

What are you doing to provide and hold space for your spouse?

Point #5: Groping vs Seducing

Garrett: I got to this place where I wanted Danielle to feel wanted, and part of that included seducing her, not just touching her all the time. It became more and more natural for me to help her get what she wanted, knowing that in helping her get what she wanted, would get me what I wanted as well.
Danielle: In that space, it was interesting. You’d want to come spend time with me, but the only way I can describe it is that you were groping me. You had your hand planted on my ass and were literally all over me. I would get triggered and annoyed, which would lead to you shutting down. I just needed a safe space where I could enjoy the time with you while getting warmed up.

QUESTION

How does this resonate with you?

Communication Challenge:

Your final challenge inside of this week’s show is this: Sit down and have a conversation and ask yourselves these three questions: What do I want for myself in this situation? What do I want for my partner or my spouse in this situation? What do I want for us as a couple?

Note: Keep in mind that it might be a little emotionally triggering for both of you. This is a good time to practice the art of holding space for each other.

Date Night Topic:

Take a trip down memory lane: How and where did you meet?

Quote of the Week:

“I think what you’re going to find once you get clear is that there’s a lot of shit you’re doing that will not get you what you want. It makes it easy to shift gears and to say I’m not going to do these things anymore, and instead I’m going to do these things because these are the things that will get me what I want.”

—Garrett J White

“Garrett’s always a good surprise. If you’re bored or safe, that’s not necessarily a good place to be in a marriage. I feel if you’re in maintenance mode, you’re stagnant and digressing.”

—Danielle K White

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