7 Things Happy Couples Practice
What are happy couples? What do happy couples do to become happy couples? How do happy couples stay happy couples and not become miserable? Is there a prescription that happy couples follow that others are unaware of? Sort of.
What Do Happy Couples Do?
If we took a poll of what makes happy couples happy, most of us would be able to answer correctly. I sense that knowing is less of a problem than applying what seems to be simple practices of happy couples. If you are anything like me, at social functions throughout your life, you have taken a mental inventory of what happy couples look and “feel” like. When we can put pride and ego aside, we learn a lot just by observing and being in the presence of happy couples.
Hollywood Happy Couples Are Not Real
Just writing the words happy couples makes me a little uncomfortable. Hollywood movies and fake smiles come to mind. Actors and actresses whose full-time job is to look pretty, sexy, and happy distort the truth. My experience is that real-life happy couples are nothing like what Hollywood and TV pretend to be like.
Suppose you are interested in improving your relationship and being one of those happy couples that you probably make fun of occasionally. In that case, I invite you to read the following article from Your Tango. You may laugh at how simple and obvious happy couples’ practices seem. This is not rocket science. Most of us know on some level what it takes for successful relationships, the foundation of happy couples in the real world.
7 Regular Things That ‘Crazy In Love’ Couples ALWAYS Do
“If you truly want the best relationship possible, don’t leave the fate of your “happily in love” connection to luck or chance. Trust me, couples who thrive for the long-term actively choose behaviors that keep them in a good place with each other.
As a marriage therapist who has been happily married and counseling for 40 years, here are the top 7 habits I see ridiculously happy couples practice faithfully:
1. Spend time together
It is staggering how many couples come to my office having not spent a single meaningful moment together since their last session. I know, I know—Kids and jobs quickly derail your chances of alone time. But come on!
You can’t connect if you never spend time together. It’s the most obvious and basic step of keeping love alive.
So get with it, pull out your calendars, set a date to spend some time together and then honor it. Create a space (sans kids) where you can breathe together—that is when meaningful connection and conversations occur.
2. Know your partner’s love language
This one is so important—Just because your mom sang your praises for cleaning up your room doesn’t mean your partner is as impressed by the act. We each value different loving behaviors and gestures in our relationship. Often couples have completely different love languages.
If you don’t know what you’re partner’s is, ask. Your honey has probably tried to share theirs, but you may have missed it. So, find out today.
Just ask “What things have I done that make you feel the most loved?” Perhaps it will be the time you surprised her by cooking dinner. Perhaps his will be just touching him affectionately. Or that time you threw him that surprise birthday party.
Unsure of what the different love languages are? Make a date to flip through The Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman together. Discovering your partner’s love language makes showing appreciation and affection truly fun again.
3. Commit to 20-second hugs twice a day
I’m not talking about a polite, A-shaped hug. I mean a hip-to-hip, really holding each other bear hug. Why must it last 20 seconds? Because that’s how long it takes for your oxytocin to kick in (otherwise known as “the cuddle hormone”) which gives you that delightful feeling that all is right with the world (and your relationship).
I regularly “prescribe” 20-second hugs to my patients because the gesture is powerful medicine. So, every morning before you leave for work and then again when you get home, spend 20 full seconds in an embrace. I guarantee you, one or both of you will quickly slip into your happy place. But remember, because it works so well and feels so good, if you skip this ritual too often, your partner will soon feel uncared for. So, commit to it and enjoy it!
4. Learn to listen (without interrupting)
Nothing says “I love you” more than really listening when your partner speaks. About their thoughts. About their feelings. Even about that big meeting with their boss and their stressful, busy day.
Authentic listening is a skill most people struggle with however. It means shutting off your screens, dialing down your own thoughts, making eye contact, nodding your head in an appreciative way … you know, actually caring and being present. Supportive grunts and high-fives are also appropriate. Bonus points for touching your partner’s arm at appropriate moments to show you’re genuinely paying attention.
Giving your partner the floor without needing to put in your own two cents (or stealing the spotlight) shows that their thoughts and feelings are as important to you as your own. Just make sure to mirror back what your partner says (without editorial comments, of course). Don’t tell them what to do, simply reflect what you heard them say and your understanding of how it impacted them.
5. Keep each other in the loop
How can you know when to celebrate or commiserate with your partner if they don’t keep you informed about what’s going on in their life? If your partner believes their entire work future depends on keeping this current client happy, you can suggest dinner out to toast ocassions when those happy client moments occur.
Or when your partner shares that they’re working through tension in a valued friendship, you can smile and show support when they report that speed bump was successfully smoothed over.
We all want and need to come home to someone who carries us in their mind as we face the challenges and joys of our day. Knowing that your partner cares about your life outside of just your relationship together makes feel protected, cheered for, and like our place on Earth matters.
6. Actually plan your future together (as in, on an actual calendar!)
Most of the stuff that matters in relationships won’t happen unless it’s on the calendar. This includes sex, getting together with friends, and making time to see each other (see habit #1!). Making time every month to set goals together will increase your sense that you’re on the same journey together, planning a meaningful future that you both prioritize and value.
Remember, you’re on a team, so pull together, whether it’s around the children, your individual career goals, your sex life, or just figuring out what you want to do this weekend.
7. Reassure each often
Everyone needs reassurance from time to time. Don’t wait until one of you needs it to give it. Frequently affirming how much you care keeps the other person relaxed and feeling safe in your relationship. Sometimes an out-of-nowhere, heartfelt “I love you” instantly makes up for all of those moments when you didn’t understand each other.
And nothing keeps us feeling secure in our relationships like hearing all of the ways our partner appreciates us. It’s hard to slip into insecurity about their love when they’ve just mentioned two reasons why they’re so glad you’re in their life.
Human beings survive across the ages because our brains evolved with a negativity bias—remaining ever alert to what’s possibly wrong. Our brains feed us flashes of every potential danger which often means we’re imagining some of them. When you see your partner panic and “make up” a problem, rather than get mad or defensive, reach out to them calmly. They just need some reassurance to quiet that primal part of their brain down again.
Focus on what you want to see more of
The common thread of the 7 habits above is that they each teach couples to focus on what is going right in their relationship versus what is going wrong. So celebrate what you want to see more of. Compliment instead of criticize. Deep down we all yearn for the feeling found in the beautiful words of Mr. Rogers, “I love you … just the way you are.”
Challenge yourself to let go of criticism, and invite your partner to rest in the happiness of being loved for exactly that.”
7 Things Happy Couples Practice
I think the seven things that happy couples practice are all helpful, but focusing on actually listening can go a long way in supporting your relationship. We know The Number One Reason Most Relationships Struggle is communication, specifically listening. I appreciate Dr. Jim Walkup LMFT encouraging couples to focus on what they want is just as important. I find that when working with couples, they tend to focus on what the other is doing wrong and blame each other when we begin working together. This is generally the place where the work needs to begin, stop blaming, and take responsibility for who and what we are doing that does not support a positive, healthy relationship. Most couples find this challenging in the beginning but eventually enjoy sharing honestly and being accountable to themselves and their partner. I often see the shift begin when couples focus on what they want as opposed to what they don’t want.
I am curious to hear about your experiences with the seven things happy couples practice. Does this jive with your experiences? Happy couples not only exist on TV screens and in movie theaters. We can all improve and strengthen our relationships. What steps do you have to begin to improve yours? What steps have you taken in the past that helped facilitate you being one of those happy couples we were discussing?
Other posts you may enjoy:
Stop Stalking and Start Talking
Why You Don’t Have To Be Right All The Time
Listening as an Art and Skill to Improving Relationships
Things Your Couples Counselor Already Knows About Your Relationship
Michael Swerdloff
Providence Holistic Counseling Services
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