As The New Year begins, it offers us time and space to reflect on what matters most. Naturally, this brings up thoughts about our relationships. Building rich and meaningful partnerships doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Through cultivating shared meaning, you can use Gottman Method Therapy approaches to craft a solid foundation for your relationship based on similar values, goals, traditions, and life narratives. Creating shared meaning in marriage can be broken down into simple and actionable steps. Read on to see best practices for improving relationships in The New Year.
What is Shared Meaning in Relationships and Why Does it Matter?
Shared meaning is a strategy from Gottman Method for couples, which focuses on cultivating deeper connections between partners. Shared meaning is created through bonding with values, goals, traditions, and life narratives. When there is a foundation of shared meaning in a relationship, challenges are faced with more resiliency and a sense of connection and alignment between partners. Shared meaning is important because without it, couples feel lost and disconnected during conflict.
The New Year is a timely moment for building connection in marriage through discussing shared meaning and all it has to offer. You can use shared meaning as a cornerstone for relationship success by identifying what values and traditions you already share, and which ones you want to weave into your life narrative together. Read on to see how you can open this conversation on we-ness in your relationship:
- Which values do you feel are defining traits of our relationship?
- What were the shared goals that came to fruition this past year?
- What are your favorite memories from this past year, and what do they say about our relationship?
- What traditions would you consider essential to our relationship?
- If we left behind a legacy, what would you want it to be?
- If you could pick three words to describe themes from our last year together, what would they be and why?
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