Sure, we all have our ups and downs when it comes to love and relationships in general. Sometimes we will want to be beside one another and other times we will be unable to sit in the same room without arguing, there is no sure fire way to completely avoid all conflict.
Within a relationship, all parts need to be taken care of properly and everyone’s needs should always be met. Whenever one part or both parts of the couple end up feeling left out or as if their feelings are not being heard, issues come forth. Far too often we forget to take our lover’s emotions seriously, while they might not say something is bothering them the signs are present, and we need to as partners pay attention to those signs.
Below I am going to go over some of the reasons why listening to and actually responding to your partner’s emotions and feelings, in general, can be the best thing to happen to your relationship as a whole. Of course, there will be times when responding is hard, but processing and being truthful with your other half will get you much further than you think. The more open and honest you are with one another, the more room there is for the two of you to grow together rather than apart.
6 Reasons Why Actually Responding To Your Partner’s Feelings Is Important:
1. Our emotions are never without reason.
When your partner is upset, it’s not as if he or she is upset because he or she wants to be. If you do not respond to these emotions, you won’t be able to work through the issue at hand. While some reasons might seem silly to you, if they matter to your lover, you should be willing to hear them out.
2. Listening to your partner’s emotions and forming a response shows respect.
By hearing your lover out, thinking things through, and then responding, you are building a sense of trust and respect with your partner. They will appreciate you more for it, and you will both become closer. You should be able to communicate properly within your relationship.
To enhance communication and deepen understanding in your relationship, ‘Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life‘ by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD, can be a transformative resource. This book provides effective techniques for empathetic listening and expressing oneself honestly and respectfully, fostering a stronger, more respectful bond between partners.
3. Through paying attention to your lover’s emotions, you are able to build more skills.
Your significant other might not be as open with his or her emotions as you want them to be, but you should be able to tell when something is wrong. Through listening and paying close attention, you can work to combat the issues at hand without even really addressing anything in words. Building skills that will help you in lots of areas in life are quite simple when it comes to caring for your lover properly.
For those looking to develop better emotional intelligence and understanding in relationships, ‘Emotional Intelligence 2.0‘ by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves offers practical strategies to improve your ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. This book can be particularly helpful in nurturing a more emotionally intelligent approach to your relationship.
4. If you never address things you will never understand them.
If you never stop to ask your partner why he or she is feeling the way that he or she is feeling, you will never know. They aren’t going to come out and share something with you when they don’t think you care at all. Being aware and responding on your own allows you to create a bond that cannot be broken.
To further explore the connection between emotional responsiveness and relationship growth, ‘The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert‘ by John Gottman, PhD, can be an invaluable guide. Dr. Gottman’s insights into nurturing a lasting bond through understanding and addressing each other’s emotional needs are eye-opening.
5. We all have feelings and none of us like them being ignored.
When your lover is ignoring you it feels terrible. If you have ever been given the silent treatment or cut off for no reason, you know how painful it can be. Putting your lover through the pain of feeling like his or her emotions don’t matter is not something you should ever want to do.
6. When we respond to our partner’s feelings, we grow together.
When we are more open and honest with one another we begin to see things more clearly. The more you address your partner’s feelings the closer you and your partner will become. Growth is something that both of you are constantly going through and when you’re able to accept the emotions that are before each of you and work through the negative things. Emotions and growth go hand in hand and growing together is one of the best means of getting closer.