Emotional Connection is the secret to Flowing Relationships.
INSPIRED LIFE COACHING….. December 2014 Newsletter
by Life Coach, Relationship Specialist & Inspirational Speaker,
Annalisa O’Toole
Emotionally Connecting is the root foundation for relationships to flourish…
If your Relationship is in need of repair, it is most likely, because your EMOTIONAL CONNECTION has been compromised. It is in jeopardy, it is not strong, and it is creating havoc in your life. Here are the BEST ways to reconnect emotionally. It requires at least ONE person, constantly working to show love, support, and admiration, and trustworthiness. It takes two forgiving, honest, and willing people to move forward. If you are the one trying to repair, mend, or save a relationship, you will know the advice below that is specific for you. If you are the one who thinks everything is fine, but your partner is having trouble –look again at the following things. You need to absorb some emotional-connecting tips- and fast!! Stop arguing about the little things, and realize it is your EMOTIONAL CONNECTION that has been broken. Let’s repair it!!! Hope these tips help you through this season. We are in a season of giving, so try to focus more on what you can GIVE to the relationship, verses WHAT you get or don’t get out of it.
If one is tired, offer a massage —
If one is crying, hold them.
If one is bitchin, say, “I understand what can I do or help you with?”
If one is frustrated, let them vent without getting mad – one person at a time with the elevated emotions!! Your job is to Just listen, empathize, support, offer assistance.
If one is nagging, say, “What can I do to help you?”
If one is demanding, say, “Let me write these things down, so I don’t forget, I know they are important to you, I’ll do my best at these”
If one is distant — give them space.
If one is short—say, “I know it feels as if your world is falling apart, but I still love you.”
If one is quick tempered, say, “How can I make things easier, or relieve your load?”
If one is late home from work, have dinner ready, offer a beverage, sit with them and talk.
If the house is messy, clean it.
If it’s trash day, take it out.
If its grocery day and you’re buying them, bring home flowers guys. Girls: Bring home his favorite item, or beer.
Leave notes of appreciation saying “have a great day” in their car, or by their mirror in the bathroom.
Guys: Buy a spa day certificate, take the kids all day, and tell her she’s off-duty!!!
Girls: Buy an admission ticket to a sports event, or the shooting range (hopefully you haven’t made him too mad! HA!)
Love Languages:
Most people feel loved if their partner does one or more of the following:
TIME GIFTS SERVICES WORDS OF AFFIRMATION AFFECTION/TOUCH
Figure out which one is their HOT button, do things around that love language as often as possible.
Social Media & Friends of opposite sex:
Clean up your friendships outside the marriage. It is not good to have ‘female’ or ‘male’ friends you talk to daily or often. Even if you speak to this person about getting their gender perspective on your relationship – which seems innocent, it creates a sense of disloyalty within your partner. Phone records can be checked. Although you may not be in a sexual relationship —-an emotional connection starts by talking often — and even if talking often is not leading to an emotional connection, it would never be perceived as ‘platonic’ if there are multiple texts and calls throughout day to day. OR, long patterns of texting or talking on and off throughout the month. Chatting on games, snap chat, vines, and other forms of communication are all the same. They are not healthy to participate in with friends of the opposite sex if you are in a committed, exclusive relationship. Even if you both trust each other impeccably – it sends the wrong message to the other chatter – the message being –I have a need to talk to you, and have fun conversations with you- because my partner isn’t available to. Even though this isn’t the message you INTENDED – it is what ‘can’ be perceived. So to stay in the safe zone: REFRAIN.
WORDS & COMMUNICATION:
- No interrupting
- No threats to leave house or relationship.
- No name calling.
- Stay on topic, no bringing up the past
- No going to bed mad
If someone is upset, ask more questions verses making more statements. Always repeat what you thought your partner said, here’s an example: “So, what I heard you say was”: then repeat that outloud. This way, your partner can feel they were ‘heard’ with their perspective, or ‘not understood’. The goal in any conversation is for one person to feel understood.
The MINUTE your emotions start elevating (heart rate increases, sweating, or feelings of panic, or feelings of anger) due to frustration or anger, it is best to TAKE A BREAK rather than yell, or get aggressive, or begin hitting walls.
If, or when- one partner see’s their partner is getting worked up in anger, it is best to begin soothing them with things like:
Let’s talk about this later.
Maybe I should go, and we can talk it out later.
Maybe we should just stop talking now, hold each other, and come back to a discussion later.
Always speak life. Never let your words have a frustrating tone- no matter your mood, their words, their accusation, etc…If they are upset, YOU REMAIN CALM! If they need correcting, do it lovingly. If one is upset, the other could use phrases like:
- I hear you, I understand.
- I am so sorry that upset you. What can I do to make you feel better?
- Come over here, let me hold you.
- Let’s go do something very, very special together.
- I love when you ______________
- I think it’s so cool that you ______________
- You make me feel so good, and special when you ________________
- You’re leaving home in THAT shirt? You look so good in that, I worry someone will steal you away! (playful, not jealous tones…easy does it on this one)
- I am so sorry that is happening to you, how can I help you?
If you are the one upset, be careful to use the I FEEL______I FELT_____, I FOUND______ method, it makes your partner feel less accused, less criticized, and it makes it more about ‘your feelings’ than their wrong doing.
EDIFY your spouse even if it is not received in love. The goal is to give -without any expectation of a return. Give compliments, show appreciation, offer helpfulness, show thoughtfulness, show kindness, show consideration. Don’t have double standards. EVEN IF they aren’t showing these to you, DO IT ANYWAY!! They will eventually learn their mistakes, and your example will pay off – or things won’t change and then you can re-access the relationship or seek more coaching.
If you are estranged, separated, or working on things and sex is ‘OFF’ limits presently –NEVER make a pass, or caress, or reach to touch your partner unless THEY initiate, so you know that you know- that you know- they want to go there. If sexual relations are OK, take the time to be gentle, do something fun and different. Be about making THEM feel good for a change – it’s not all about YOU, you know. Get creative, and be spontaneous. Break the same-ole, same-ole routines. Surprise your partner with something new. Remember:
Passion is a Friendship – ON FIRE!!!
Learn to LAUGH! You must share laughter together. It is the secret ingredient that makes everything else work. If you cannot laugh daily, create pet names, make up new stuff that makes you laugh, act silly, whatever, you are missing a very important part of emotionally connecting.
BE OK if your partner needs to CRY! What someone who is crying needs most, is less talk, and more holding. PERIOD. But reminding softly, that they are loved, and you’re in this forever and, ever after that, is not a bad idea!!
Always give eye-contact….ALWAYS, even if they are not looking at you! Don’t be easily distracted if they are talking to you. FOCUS on not only looking at them, but listen intently, put the phone down. IT CAN WAIT!
INITIATE a fun activity together, plan a date, or plan a future vacation together. Plan a project, or do something charitable together. GIVING always creates peacefulness within.
RESPECT the money manager of the relationship. This person has it tough; they have to be the bad guy. They have to budget, they have to say no, they have to access the needs (that don’t always align with their partner’s idea of needs) Somebody will have to be more flexible, but ultimately, the money manager needs A LOT of understanding, and appreciation –The hardest duo’s are when the $-manager is the FEMALE. Because that is out of alignment with the MAN who needs feeling like he’s in charge, like he’s the leader, and the decision maker of the family. But, if his weakness is managing money, he needs to respect and adhere to the woman’s talent and ability to manage – the woman in this role needs to take EXTRA care when talking, and planning, and deciding things. There is a fine line between being the decision maker, and respecting your Man!
HE needs respect upmost in the relationship.
SHE needs to feel understood, loved, cherished, adored, and be reminded by her man she is number 1, he’s in for the long haul, and there’s no one else who could ever take her place and she’s amazing, and you love her cooking, and she is talented, and she makes you feel so good, and…….
NOTICE: Men –need one thing. Woman: A long-Complicated list!!!! Men & Women who ‘get this’ will have flowing relationships.
PRAYING together is the ULTIMATE way to build back a strong emotional connection. Try it, it’s amazing. Start out with one person, build up to taking turns. It can truly shift your relationship; it somehow creates a sense of unity that is empowering.
Resources that are helpful in hurting relationships:
- The movie FIRE PROOF.
- Purchasing the 40 day journal they use in the movie at a local Christian book store, and do it.
- Love & Respect book, or ANY book by Gary Chapman. He wrote the love Languages book also.
- Briggs Meyer’s- ISDC Personality Profiles. This is great insight for determining how your partner thinks and their perspective of things. It is helpful for improving communication and connection.
- Attend a marriage or couples retreat or seminar together.
- Create a ‘MUST HAVE’ list and each of you ‘share’ your list of desires, and work on giving more.
- Decide the past hurts that are still rising up, and creating problems, write them each down on an index card. On the back, write how you choose to forgive, and move past it, what you’ll do different in the future moving forward…then have a BURN date, by the fire! DISCUSS each one- STATE YOUR WRONG if you were- FORGIVE-OFFER your NEW way of resolving-PRAY-THEN TOSS them in the fire!!! Don’t go back to those situations.
If your partner is distant – YOU warm up.
If your partner is quiet, make them laugh.
If your partner is hurried, help them.
If your partner is trying to make plans with friends without you, (they are needing space, apparently) you make plans on your own, happily. Two individually independent people with their personal interests are far more intriguing and enjoyable- than two people who are together all the time- without outside interests. Make SURE you are supportive of your partner’s friends, interests, and activities that have nothing to do with you. This is healthy, and a necessity in life.
Keep in mind, if you are in a position of trying to consider: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO in your relationship, these tips are VERY IMPORTANT as you seek God and His guidance for that decision.
- Fruits of a loving spirit, (within someone’s character) are peace. Lack of them, is turmoil. Here they are: Gentleness, kindness, joy, humbleness, not self-seeking, doesn’t keep record of wrongs, not jealous, patient, and loving.
- Have I maintained a loving spirit, for a long consistent amount of time, and my partner still treats me unloving?
- Does my partner seek God, or is there something else more important: Money-Entertainment-Friends-Work-etc.? (not sure, look at where their money, time, and thoughts go)
- Do I –or- Does my partner have purpose and passion about life outside of ‘us’? A person without this, will often times rely too heavily on their partner to feel good about themselves, and this is not only insecure, but a big load for someone to bear! It is vital that people discover their skills, talents, and creative side and serve someone or something in this world to make a difference – not just with their partner and on the home-front!!
- Does my partner have a positive energy around them, do I feel uplifted when we are together, or is most of our time feel like one or both of us wants the other to change something?
- Is there an unhealthy, influential person in my partner’s (or my) life that is not likely to disconnect from (them) (or me) anytime soon, and therefore; makes it extremely difficult to have and keep a strong emotional connection with my lover?
- Are our values so different that our priorities are different, and this causes us to have constant conflict?
- Do I –or- does my partner –stay in this relationship because they ‘fear’ something? Rejection, instability, being alone, jealous of the other moving on without them, fear of not having or making enough money, etc…
- Do we find ways to manage our children or do we constantly have issues regarding their care?
- Is there constant drama, other people involved in affairs that should be handled between just us?
I hope these tips are helpful. I hope they make you think, and contemplate your relationship -so you can make the positive changes that will ensure your happiness together. For some, it’s taking time to create space and work on building back the friendship, so the passion is re-ignited. For other’s, it is re-building a friendship, so the passion increases, so the mistrust issues diminish….and more trust is gained.
You attract more bees with honey!!
Coaching relationships doesn’t make progress if one or two people have a hardened heart, remain un-open to change, un-open to forgiveness, or are unteachable.
Relationship coaching however, can succeed if each person will ‘look in the mirror’ – accept their weaknesses, commit to change, and work on serving their partners deepest emotional needs.
The Holidays are only stressful if you allow them to be. I hope this Christmas season, you will commit to your relationship. The changes necessary, and work toward your mutual goals to create a wonderful and loving, romantic New YEAR!!!
Looking forward to hearing from you and learning how you’re doing!!
Coach Annalisa O’Toole~
(ph)678-431-6528 (email) lifecoachannalisa@gmail.com
Follow for More relationship advice daily on Twitter: @coachannalisa
resources to stay in constant communication with people. Now with social media, and the ease and practical ways to connect right on your smartphone, there is just no reason not to be breathing positive, encouraging, uplifting messages of information, praise, recognition, and affirmations each and every day or week! People want to be around excited, successful people. How will they know this exists unless they see, hear, feel, and learn from posts, emails, phone calls, texts, and even snail mail cards – that it is happening and they are an important part !!!
Here is a glossary of words to help you feel EMPOWERED to design the life you ‘really’ want….
FOR ALL UNHAPPILY MARRIED WOMEN -or- TROUBLED RELATIONSHIPS……..
#attracting the wrong people? Please allow me to coach your perspective regarding your mindset about ‘attraction’. I have learned, and it has been my personal experience, that we attract people who we feel are most like us. Many say, that absolutely can not be true, because they feel they are ‘NOT’ like the last person they dated! But, there is something about each person we attract that resonates with us, which is why we become connected. Then, we learn of the qualities that we don’t like, and we decide (sometimes) to become, disconnected, or disassociated. (Or,we stay connected due to the physical attraction, the sexual infatuation, and wonder why you can’t get along, or have a roller coaster relationship) So, how then, do we learn to discern who to attract? Here’s the secret…WE ATTRACT THAT WHICH WE MOST THINK ABOUT. This can be a person, place, thing, opportunity, tragedy, crisis, challenge, event, ordeal, group, material items, money, etc… So, what are you focusing on? If you are focused on your faults, your doubts, your fears, and your lack of something, THIS IS EXACTLY what will appear into your reality. Sometimes, your focus can manifest as a person with the very qualities you’re trying to avoid! Why? You keep thinking of what you don’t like!! Or perhaps an opportunity that seems appealing at first, but turns out to be the VERY SITUATION YOU FEAR – why?, because you were keeping those fears around in your thoughts. Maybe you have been consumed on ‘not being able to pay the bills’. So, therefore, deeper debt has arisen. WHY? You were thinking THAT exact thought, the thoughts of ‘not being able to pay the bills”. So the universe has delivered to you –your continued inability to pay them!!! Do you see a pattern here?
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