At many of the parties I attended in the past, I was often asked “How are the wife and kids?” This question usually came soon after asking about how business was going and my wife Peggy wasn’t there.
When she was there, the question changed a little, although the focus remained on the status of my family. Family was important to the people I associated with.
Any social event that only focuses on business and avoids mention of family is out of balance. When others are concerned about you, they’re also concerned about your family.
When you stumble for an answer, your actions reveal speak louder than words. Not knowing what the status or lying about the status speaks loudly.
Although on the surface, the question is an innocent inquiry, it’s a great question worth considering as you head into the new year.
“How are your wife and kids?”
If your answer is anything less than ‘great’, it’s time for some improvement. Investing your time and attention in family always pays great dividends. Since the key foundational relationship is your marriage, that’s always a good starting place.
The quality of your marriage relationship is reflected in all your other relationships.
Even when an affair happens, the hurt impacts all your other relationships.
Your marriage relationship is not just about communication. It’s also about sharing, problem solving and taking risks. When it’s less than optimal, it’s a red flag signal alerting you that something needs your attention.
Doing something that improves your marriage relationship is a great way of starting the new year. You may even want to consider it a way of investing in ALL your relationships and yourself given the benefits it carries with it.
Your marriage relationship also impacts your health. Any grudges or resentments come with a cost. My recommendation for improving your marriage relationship is the “30 Days to a Better Marriage Program”.
In the program, you’ll receive a short daily direction that focuses on another area of communication. During the 30 days, you’ll discover many proven ways of improving your relationship with your spouse.
With the incremental nature of the exercises, you’ll improve more areas of communication than you were aware were at work in your marriage.
Improving your marriage doesn’t have to be complicated or painful. You can start improving your marriage for the new year and gain a new outlook as well.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
