By Natalie BennettFriday 15 Sep 2023Salt 106.5 WeekendsRelationshipsReading Time: 3 minutes

In Part 2 Relationship expert and neuropsychotherapist Joanne Wilson unpacks change in relationships, and how we can be prepared for the transitions in our lives and relationships. 

Getting prepared, making sure that we’re prepared for the future transitions that will occur. “There’s always going to be change…” this is about making sure that we’re prepared for the expected and unexpected changes, “that we check in with each other regularly”.

Thinking about what your emotions are towards some large (and small) changes in life… “when you move house, this one of the stressful things. If there’s an unexpected death, I know that you don’t know how you’re always going to feel or what you’re going to do or how you’re gonna react, but maybe think about how you can support each other and your expectations”.

“In the counseling room, that’s where I see it go horribly wrong, is in these key events, these big moments in life, where we feel let down by our partner”.

“Checking in with each other regularly. How are you feeling? What do you feel good about? Now, self-disclosure, my husband and I do this every single week. We have a discussion about what we’ve liked about our relationship in the recent week, what we haven’t liked, and then plans for the future. So it’s like a three-step process and it’s our time just to have a bit of a download about what we need more of.”

Free Marriage Assessment from Focus on the Family

We are so glad you’ve taken this step to invest in your marriage. Based on research and experience from Greg and Erin Smalley, Focus on the Family has created valid and reliable questions that evaluate the strength of 12 essential traits of your marriage —areas such as communication, conflict, and commitment. The assessment is free and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

“If it’s appreciation, if we need support in certain areas, it is really, really healthy to have a vision or I guess take a snapshot of what your week has looked like and then plan for the following week. Taking stock is also giving each other a high five and a hug. So make sure that you maintain your strong connection by ensuring that you truly appreciate the other person for just the smallest thing amongst all the chaos.

“It is super helpful to make sure that you take pride in your partner. As you’re challenged in the ebbs and flows of life, …don’t assume that they know that you appreciate them and don’t assume that they know how much you value them. Often blokes particularly will say, ‘oh, I think these things I just forget because I get so busy’… make sure you verbalize or leave a note”.

Nest in Part 3 Joanne shares about how to make your relationship more exciting and fun.

Listen to the full conversation in the player above. 

For more from Joanne Wilson tune in each Saturday from 12pm or find more from The Relationship Rejuvenator online.

Part 1: How to Turn Your Marriage Marathon into a Fun Run

Relationship expert and neuropsychotherapist Joanne Wilson starts a 3-part series to support you in cultivating a thriving in dynamic relationships. A question couples often ask – “Is our relationship going anywhere?” In this, Part 1 of a 3-part series, Relationship Coach Joanne Wilson is talking about how to turn your marriage marathon into a fun run, because you can just coast along at a pretty steady pace, sometimes you need to mix it up together. Read more.