"Just for today (and maybe all year) I'll banish my phone from meals - both at home and at restaurants - and really see and hear my partner. It has become less shocking but still sad to see couples out for a date night at a restaurant that is spent largely on their phones. Facing each other over a shared meal, whether at home or out, and seizing the opportunity to reconnect can be a joy."
"If most of your meals are spent with a lively young family, carve out a short time after the meal or after the kids are in bed to ask about each other's day or state of mind, or simply hold hands and enjoy a warm silence together. I will listen more closely to my loved one, hearing nuances I might otherwise miss or details that are important to him or her."
Make a commitment to positive relationship change by prioritizing presence, listening, collaboration, and gratitude. Replace phone use at meals with intentional eye contact and conversation, or set aside brief post-meal or after-bedtime moments to check in and share silence. Listen closely to capture nuances and unmet wishes rather than multitasking or half-listening. Choose collaboration over blaming or excusing to address problems constructively. Cultivate gratitude for the qualities and shared experiences that brought partners together and sustain closeness. Framing relationship resolutions as manageable daily choices increases the chance of sustained, meaningful change.
Read at Psychology Today
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