EmPowered Couples with The Freemans

If you plan to be married for a long time, you need to work through hard seasons, course-correct, and commit to make changes. These are the times that you need to take steps to rebuild the marriage and start a chapter. This is PART 2 of the “Steps to Rebuild a Marriage” episode #312 as we got so many messages about this topic.  In this episode we will briefly remind you of the steps to rebuild, which we have shortened from 8 to 6. Then we will dive further into 4 ways that you can easily get off track in these difficult conversations for rebuilding. These conversations are inherently going to be more vulnerable and potentially charged, so you will need to quickly adjust when you feel them getting off track.    Relationship Resources From This Episode: The brand NEW Steps to Rebuild a Marriage Guide so you can end a hard season and create a new chapter together.  

Meeting each other’s needs is the basis for a great relationship. This can get complex especially when it comes to the need of intimacy in a marriage, a fundamental need that often takes different forms for men and women. While some men seek physical intimacy to feel connected, their female partners emphasize the need for emotional intimacy.  In this episode you will hear the significance of first establishing emotional safety (in its various forms) before either type of intimacy can be created. Then how each person’s need can be accepted as valid and a  roadmap for building emotional intimacy through 4 key elements: attunement, honesty, vulnerability, and initiation.  As for physical intimacy, you will hear the keys of emphasizing love deposits, injecting fun, and introducing intentional variety into the experience. You will understand that you can in fact meet both of your needs as they are independent of each other first. The meeting of those needs further raise both the emotional and physical aspects of your marriage.   Relationship Resources (mentioned in the episode): 1) Register for the next "Prioritize Us" 30 Day Couples Challenge and get the Family Meeting Guide as a part of it.  2) Get the Family Meeting Guide on it's own now.   

Learn 5 ways to be an exceptional partner in the face of challenges: aligning words and actions, being present and supportive, prioritizing partner's satisfaction, adjusting expectations, and focusing on resilience and solutions.

Disconnection and dissatisfaction can often stem from a power struggle for leadership, especially if it’s been absent. This episode highlights the unique marriage challenges in contemporary relationships, where misconceptions about domination and disengagement can create more conflicts.  Leadership within a marriage is not about control but influence and the initiative to guide. This episode explores essential leadership values  including a just cause, trust within the team, accountability, collaborative rivalry, substantial flexibility, and the courage to navigate life's challenges together. Ultimately, you'll be inspired to approach your marriage with a renewed perspective for sharing leadership for long-term satisfaction.   Marriage Resources:  Find all the resoruces you need from simple step-by-step guides, to webclasses, in person workshops, and even private coaching at https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links    

Explore the concept of 'crucible moments' in marriage, where choices test the strength of your bond. Examples include handling heated arguments or financial loss. Learn the importance of making decisions aligned with your values and practicing self-honesty. Discover how these moments can lead to growth and improvement in your relationship. Find out how aligning actions with values and developing personal character traits can foster a strong and lasting marriage.

Discover the four vital non-negotiables for a lasting marriage: individual responsibility, emotional intelligence, open communication, and flexibility. These keys foster trust and forgiveness, enhancing partnership strength. Learn how to engage in meaningful conversations that elevate emotional intimacy. Embrace resilience and teamwork to tackle conflicts and grow together, transforming challenges into opportunities for connection. Resources for improving communication skills are also highlighted to help couples thrive.

Explore the process of revitalizing a marriage mired in challenges, resentment, and conflicts. Focus on strengthening the foundation, addressing unresolved issues, and reestablishing core values for a stronger future together. Learn the power of making a conscious decision to become a better partner and gain insight and guidance to rebuild your marriage.

In this episode, you'll explore the critical role of agreements during times of conflicts in your own marriage. Just like any game, your marriage really only works on the adherence to certain rules or guidelines, then everyone can have fun playing the game! While your marriage involves various agreements for different aspects of life, the most vital ones are those designed for navigating conflicts. These agreements, treated as laws, encompass actions for you to take or avoid when emotions run high, including refraining from yelling, name-calling, bringing up past grievances, or storming out without communicating the need for a break.  Beyond mere verbal promises, these agreements demand your genuine commitment and personal responsibility. Emotions are viewed as data, not directives, and you're encouraged to recognize your emotions, calm your nervous system, and pause when necessary. Even when your partner fails to uphold their agreements, this episode stresses the importance of your personal integrity and establishing minimum acceptable standards for yourself, ultimately providing you with a roadmap for resolving conflicts constructively and maintaining a healthy marriage. Resources: NEW DE-ESCALATE CONFLICTS GUIDE: A realistic guide to managing your emotions and keeping simple conversations from escalating into overblown fights. It’s the De-escalating Conflicts & Regulating Emotions Guide and it’s only $19.

What truly determines the health and success of a romantic relationship? While popular resources online suggest differences in personality traits, attachment styles, past traumas, or external stressors as contributing factors, the episode sheds light on a more precise concept – "relationship stability."    Psychologists have coined this term to better measure long-term success in relationships, ultimately linked to the duration of the partnership along with a sense of fulfillment, not driven by obligation or fear. The VSA model of Marriage, encompassing Vulnerabilities, Stress, and Adaptation, takes center stage, highlighting the significance of effective communication, problem-solving, compromise, support, and the ability to adapt and evolve behavior to nurture a healthy and satisfying marriage.  This episode invites you to reflect on their own relationships, emphasizing that it's not about what happens to you, but how you respond when vulnerabilities surface amidst external stressors. Also, make sure you join the upcoming 30-Day Couples Challenge here. Receive daily prompts to fill your “Love Accounts,” improve your communication, and become more connected.

In this heartfelt podcast episode, you'll explore the crucial difference between falling in love and staying in love. The hosts share insightful points on making your partner feel seen, appreciated, adored, respected, and accepted over time. They also emphasize the importance of navigating the natural ebbs and flows of intimacy, remaining receptive to each other's needs, course-correcting when necessary, and investing the effort required for enduring love. This episode provides you with a roadmap to cultivate a deep, lasting connection with your partner, reminding you that love is a journey, and staying in love is an ongoing commitment, regardless of the stage of your relationship.   Resources: Use this link to find our top communication and conflict resolution resources and guides. https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links    FREE BOOK for reviews through Sept 21st, 2023: Want us to personally sign and mail you a copy of our book, The Argument Hangover? For EVERY SINGLE one of you that writes a review for our podcast, or emails us about how our guides or challenges have benefited you, we will send this book. Due to shipping restrictions, this applies to those in the United States. For those of you outside the U.S., we will send you the E-Book plus a bonus thank you gift. Just email us the review: connect@newpowercouples.com. This goes through Sept 21st, 2023.