Make Room for Empathy: You can both feel scared.

Having a partner for life means going through life together. And life can be freaking scary. Career instability, health issues, miscarriages, becoming parents, deaths in the family, addiction, getting older, these are all things that make you go 😰. Sometimes we need a parent who’s “got this” and knows what to do, but sometimes we need a partner sitting next to us squeezing our hand tight.

Here’s the bind many spouses find themselves in: I’m freaking out and I feel alone which sucks, but if you’re freaking out too this ship will sink. One of us has to keep it together.

Here’s the thing: there are going to be times when neither of you knows what to do. These are the times to band together and share in that vulnerability if even just for a moment. You don’t have to save each other all of the time. You can empathize and collaborate.

If you and your partner need help learning how to empathize with each other, please reach out with questions! You can email me at info@alexbarnettecounseling.com