When emotions run high or the conversation feels like it’s going in circles, it’s okay to ask for a pause. This phrase can be a helpful way to create space without shutting down the discussion entirely. The key is framing it in a way that shows you’re still committed to resolving things, just not in […]
Month: August 2025
Words to Avoid: “Guess I’m the bad one here.”
or “That’s who I am— a lousy person.” When you say this, you’re deflecting responsibility and sidestepping the real issue. The other person brought something up, hoping for some accountability or at least a conversation about what’s going on. But instead of engaging with the situation directly, you’re avoiding it by either blaming yourself or […]
Words to Use: “Is this a good time to talk about this?”
Timing matters.This simple question respects your spouse’s current capacity to engage, instead of dropping a heavy conversation on them out of nowhere. 💬 “Is this a good time to talk about something that’s on my mind?”💬 “I want to bring something up, but only if you’ve got the headspace for it right now.”💬 “Can we […]
Words to Avoid: “You should know how I feel.”
It’s tempting to say this—especially when you’ve dropped hints, or you feel like your emotions should be obvious.But “You should know how I feel” usually lands as blame, not connection. 🎯 It turns a moment that could build closeness into a moment of frustration or shame.It implies they’ve failed a test they didn’t know they […]