Marriage has many wonderful moments, but also some not so great moments. My husband and me are two completely different people. We will always disagree because we are not perfect. We may also not always be able to handle our differences very well. Marriage has brought me many wonderful things but also taught me to deal with the stress of life together.
We may not like the process of handling conflict in our marriages. It is more harmful to avoid any disagreements than to fight about them. There is no perfect life, marriage or person. All marriages have their struggles, but it is normal for a couple to struggle in order to grow together and build a strong bond.
Here are five ways to resolve conflict in your relationship.
1. Talk About It
It is important to discuss a conflict when it occurs. You should first consider what the issue was that led to the conflict. You or your partner are stressed? Does the problem have a personal connection to you? You and your spouse may have a conflict because external factors need to be addressed. You will need to work together in order to identify the external factors that may have caused the conflict.
Don’t be afraid to talk about conflicts. You should discuss important issues that arise between you. They won’t disappear if you sweep them under the carpet. The unresolved conflicts will only add to the new conflicts. You or your partner may avoid discussing the conflict. To ensure that you and your partner can discuss the issue together, you’ll need to develop strategies.
2. Always Fight Fair
When you’re trying to resolve your differences, always fight fairly. It is important to remain calm. You should avoid addressing the conflict when you feel overwhelmed by emotions such as anger, bitterness or wrath. These emotions can lead to you saying or doing things that cause a deep wound.
Avoid using absolutes. You can damage your spouse’s reputation by using phrases such as “You always …”” or calling them. You should also avoid making assumptions. Be sure to understand the intentions of each other. Miscommunication can be caused by not understanding each other’s intent.
3. Give Thanks
It’s easy when there is agreement in a disagreement to blame the other party and point fingers. You want to stop the argument and find a way to resolve your disagreement. You should be the first to apologize for your fault or to understand your spouse’s point of view in this situation. You may find that you need to forgive each other and apologize at the end of the conversation.
4. Plan ahead and stick to it
Conflicts can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, one person needs to make a change. To avoid future conflicts, you should both tell the other what you want to change. You should plan to make the changes that you discussed and stick to them. Planning and identifying the changes will help you and your spouse find happiness and build a strong marriage.
5. Reconnect with each other
It is possible that a dispute or disagreement may not be resolved completely, even after an agreement has been reached. You or your partner may find it difficult to move on from some disagreements. Spend time reconnecting with your partner. You may need to discuss the conflict later, after both of you have had time to reflect and to be apart. You may just need to be hugged and kissed by your spouse. You can move forward by doing something that you both like. Do whatever you can to reconnect with each other and help you move forward.