Chip Chick
There is hope, though – I’m giving you five keys to avoiding drama in your relationship.
#1: Don’t be 100% honest with your partner ALL THE TIME.
Let’s clear the air on this – you should be open and honest with your partner, but you do not have to tell your partner about everything.
For example, let’s say you had a bad day and came home to find your husband didn’t take out the trash as you asked him to. You might think, “God, this guy is so lazy.” Should you confront your partner? Yes. Should you call him names? No.
Those thoughts are usually fleeting and will cause more harm than good to vocalize. There are healthier ways to talk with your partner if you are unhappy. Remember – you and your partner vs. the problem, not you vs. your partner.
#2: Show your love and appreciation more.
Relationships are like a balance sheet – you want more revenue (love, communication, appreciation) than debt (conflict, negative thoughts, relationship issues). So how do you make sure your revenue exceeds your debt? Random acts of kindness. Throughout the week, do things for each other to show you appreciate and value them as a partner.
This can be daily or spread throughout the week. My wife and I like to take turns writing sticky notes with loving messages, such as, “I love you. I appreciate you. You are the best husband/wife ever. Thank you for being you.”
It can be as broad or specific as you’d like. We hide these in random places we know they will be found, so throughout the day/week, we find handwritten tokens of appreciation to brighten our day.
You don’t have to do this, but it’s a fun way for both of you to write out affirmations of appreciation. If that’s too much work, you can do something more simple such as: giving them a back rub, buying their favorite coffee while you’re out, or watching a show together.
All that matters is you are kind to one another consistently. That will go a long way in maintaining a drama-free relationship.
