New Year, New Us!
What Will It Take to Have a Better Marriage This Year than Last?
When asked, most couples desire improved communication, more quality time, more time to focus on personal, marital, and financial goals, etc. With the new year having come and gone, resolutions made, and some already broken, we challenge you to ask yourself this question: What do you want? What needs to happen between now and next year’s ball drop for you to feel like you succeeded? Like any resolution, improving your marriage demands a plan, decisive action, and a healthy dose of discipline.
How to Create Your Own Mission Statement
Consider taking your commitment to the next level by creating a couple’s mission statement. This simple yet powerful exercise can set the tone for the entire year.
Self-Reflection:
Individually, ask yourselves, who are we as a couple, right now? How do I want to see myself in our marriage? How do I want to see my partner? How do I want my partner to see me? How do I want the outside world to see us as a couple? What matters to me? What matters to my partner? What do I need? What am I willing to give?
Identifying what areas of your relationship are working well, as well as what areas could use some improvement, helps to lay the groundwork for a united mission statement.
Open-Dialogue:
Come together as a couple and share your responses with each other. Identify areas where you agree and work to compromise/negotiate on areas that you don’t to create a list of shared goals.
Get Creative:
If you’re feeling lost, look online – there are literally hundreds of examples. Just remember that it’s just a suggestion. Your relationship is yours and no one else’s, so make sure your mission statement speaks to the uniqueness of your needs and desires.
Embracing Change and Committing to Grace
Many couples we see have a long history of slights and resentments and often times it can be hard to focus on the fun things when we’re still holding onto the negatives in the past that often pepper our future. Sometimes you have to start with a semi-clean slate and grant each other (and yourselves) a bit of grace in order to pave the way for leaning into connection, even if all the things of the past aren’t currently yet resolved. This approach often makes the difficult conversations more manageable, setting the stage for growth.
Interested in Talking to a Couples Therapist in Birmingham, AL?
When the path to change feels daunting, there’s no better time than right now to seek professional support. At Sparrow Counseling in Birmingham, AL we know what it takes to go from ordinary to extraordinary and we’d love to help you have the relationship you’ve always dreamed of. To get started follow these three simple steps:
Reach out to Sparrow Counseling for a free 15-minute consultation.
Be matched with a caring, experienced couples’ therapist.
Begin your healing journey with support.
Other Services Offered at Sparrow Counseling
At Sparrow Counseling we offer in-person and online therapy in the state of Alabama. In addition to couples counseling, our team specializes in anxiety therapy, teen counseling, co-parenting counseling, blended family counseling, divorce & family mediation, discernment counseling, and more in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more by checking out our FAQs and Blog!