Empowered Couples

Life will always have challenges and we believe it’s about how you respond to them as well as how well you learn and grow. This is a huge aspect of maintaining a healthy relationship, how you handle challenges as a team.  Hopefully you know that we are not here to sugar coat anything or give you any advice that is not practical or useful in your daily marriage. So in this episode we share updates from the last 18 months as it was the hardest season we have had as a couple. It is our intent to share these challenges and updates while sharing the lessons and wisdom we have gained (and are still gaining), so that maybe you can learn the lessons without going through it yourself!  A major part of us getting through this hard season, truly united as a team, is how often we checked-in with each other. We always knew where we were each at mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We also knew what actions and patterns we needed to change. We did all this by using our Family Meeting Guide & templates that we now ha

In this episode we unravel the crucial distinction between repair, finding a solution, and resolution in relationships. Repairing conflicts, rather than simply reducing the frequency of them, is a powerful indicator of a healthy and lasting partnership. You will hear the misconception that finding a solution automatically leads to resolution, and why the emotional aspect of repair is equally vital. By understanding the formula of Repair + Solution = Resolution, we provide you with the tools to navigate conflicts more effectively and create lasting harmony.    Resources For Your Relationship: Last chance to sign up for the 30-Day Couples Challenge starting July 1st. Join here. Get the Making Up & Moving Forward guide here.

We all know that relationships can be challenging, especially when it comes to expressing our needs. Ever found yourself in a situation where you're feeling frustrated but can't quite put your finger on why? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into the importance of identifying and expressing your needs within a romantic partnership. We'll explore why simply venting your frustrations isn't enough and how it can lead to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns.  By learning to articulate your needs, you'll unlock a whole new level of understanding and connection. We'll discuss fundamental human needs, drawing inspiration from Maslow's Hierarchy and the 6 Human Needs model, and provide practical examples of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Join us as we share relatable insights and actionable tips that will empower you to create a stronger and more fulfilling relationship. Join The 30-Day Couples Challenge called “Prioritizing Us” as it starts July 1st HERE

In this episode we tackle a common challenge in relationships: expressing strong emotions to our partners without considering the present mood. We've all been there, feeling the urge to let it all out, only to realize it may not be the best time or could escalate tensions further. That's why we're here to guide you through the art of discerning the mood before speaking up. By understanding the momentum and direction of the interaction, you can make informed choices that either diffuse the energy or lead to a positive outcome. We'll also explore the importance of nurturing your partner's "Love Account," which acts like a bank account for love and connection. But that's not all! We'll share practical tips on how to approach these situations with empathy and curiosity, asking your partner what they truly need rather than jumping to conclusions.   Sign up for The 30-Day Couples Challenge, which simplifies how to make positive shifts in your relationship with daily prompts/actions directly from us to your phone fo

As parents, we know that feeling of guilt from knowing that our kiddos saw or heard the argument. But instead of guilty, we want you to become motivated to focus on the 3 keys in this episode. Make sure they see you: DE-ESCALATE the rising emotion and conflict Implement a constructive pause, and not a rupture Fully REPAIR after an argument   For more detail on these principles, get our 2 popular guides: De-Escalating Conflicts & Regulating Emotions guide here: Making Up & Moving Forward guide here:  

The 30-Day Couples Challenge starts THIS week, so sign up here: https://mycoupleschallenge.com/ In this episode, we dive into the subtle ways that effort can dwindle once we've achieved our goals. Think about athletes reaching their peak or accomplishing a major milestone in your personal life—there's a loss of that initial hunger and drive. The same can happen in your marriage, but it's trickier because there isn't a clear finish line or “scoreboard” to tell us how well we’re doing.  By listening you will get the signs of declining effort, like depleted love accounts, quick and thoughtless communication, fading passion, and that feeling of coasting or routine. But don't worry, we've got you covered with five powerful ways to rekindle that effort. From small love deposits and appreciating conscious choices to thoughtful greetings and setting the right mood, we share practical strategies to feel more prioritized, loved, and connected.  

You know that conflicts will happen in a marriage, this truth should not be resisted or avoided. However what if that same conflict comes up again and what if that turns into a pattern that shows up over and over again? This is what creates a hard season in marriage. But if this goes on for multiple weeks, months, or even years then you feel as if nothing is going to change and you lose hope in the marriage.  Some people see ending the marriage as the only option, because honestly who would want to continue to expose themselves to the same pain over and over. You need relief… and we agree. But this episode gives you 7 steps to take to get yourself out of this pattern and subsequently out of this hard season in your marriage. It’s not easy, but then again neither is this current situation and neither is a divorce. So really this is the best option for you.   Resources For Your Relationship: Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge - the 30 day challenge for couples to simplify how to make positive changes in

The obvious statement is that men and women differ in how they emotionally connect. But the actions one can take to close the gap between how men and women connect is not as practical. Couples get stuck in the trap of “I just don’t connect the same way as my partner”.  In this episode you are going to hear 3 different ways that men feel emotionally connected and 3 different ways for women. No matter how different you think you and your partner are in this area of connection, you can use one of these ways to better connect and be in harmony with your partner.   Resources For Your Relationship: Join the "Prioritize Us" Couples Challenge - the 30 day challenge for busy couples to re-prioritize each other and be more connected.   

Do you ever wish that you were back in that infamous "honeymoon" stage of your marriage? Believe us we understdand why we hear this from couples. You want to be in that feeling of newness, optimism, passion, and infinite possibilites with a true partner at your side. There is something to honor about this stage but the reality is that this is not just a short window of time that you cannot get back. It's just that you were doing a bunch of things unconsciously that were leading to this feeling of marrital bliss. In this episode you will be enlightened hearing these 4 things that you just forget to do after being together for years. In some situations it's not that you even forgot but they you never realized you were doing them in the forst place. But now you can relaize what these actions are and consciously bring them into your life to add to increaes your connection, optimism, and feeling of possibility!    Resources For Your Relationship: NEW REPAIR GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argumen

Do you ever feel that your partner just doesn’t understand and that they just don’t empathize with what you are feeling? This is a big topic for many couples. A key element of a great relationship is that you can be going through a difficult time (even if caused by your partner) and you have a partner that can be comforting and compassionate to be on your side as you go through it.  In this episode you will hear the difference between empathy and sympathy so that you can better understand which you are actually needing from them. Then you will hear some of the blocks to showing empathy and sympathy and a few steps to better demonstrate that in your relationship.   Resources For Your Relationship: NEW REPAIR GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure it’s resolved for good and get back to being truly connected as a couple. It’s the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide and it’s only $19. NEW DE-ESCALATE CONFLICTS GUIDE: A realistic guide to managing your emotions and keeping simple co

You can feel so taken off guard and frustrated when a seemingly simple conversation with your partner escalates into a conflict. When this happens both of you tend to say or do things that do more damage to the other. This is even more irritating because it could have been easily avoided in your mind.  This is exactly the point of this episode, the mistakes that escalate conversations into conflicts. In this episode you will hear 3 mistakes so that you can better recognize them and take a more constructive action so that you can de-escalate the emotion, accept it, and still stay on the same team with each other.   Resources For Your Relationship: NEW DE-ESCALATE CONFLICTS GUIDE: A realistic guide to managing your emotions and keeping simple conversations from escalating into overblown fights. It’s the De-escalating Conflicts & Regulating Emotions Guide and it’s only $19.   If you haven't yet got the repair guide to go with it, it's the step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure it’s reso

At first you might not think that you feel any jealousy in your marriage. But jealousy is simply the feeling of unhappiness or anger because someone has something you want. Yet there are others that might feel this emotion more prevalently.  In this episode you will understand more about jealousy and where it can come from. Then you will have 5 steps to take to overcome this feeling in collaboration with your partner.   Resources For Your Relationship: 1) NEW REPAIR GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure it’s resolved for good and get back to being truly connected as a couple. It’s the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide and it’s only $19. 2) Watch our FREE WebClass on: The 5 Steps to Fully Repair After an Argument So You Reconnect in Minutes (Instead of Hours, Days, Weeks). Pick a time to watch it here. 3) To find even more resources like webclasses, books, guides and coaching; visit our resources page here https://www.meetthefreemans.com/links 

Understanding the concepts of inner child and shadow patterns is crucial for a healthy marriage. We are not going to sugarcoat this either, it's one of the most difficult yet necessary things to do. In this podcast, you will explore how these two aspects can impact your behavior and dynamic in your relationship. Then you will learn practical strategies for working with these deep rooted patterns, you'll gain valuable tools for integrating these parts of yourself, promoting greater self awareness and ability to break old patterns in your marriage.   Resources For Your Relationship: NEW REPAIR GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure it’s resolved for good and get back to being truly connected as a couple. It’s the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide and it’s only $19.

By now you know that repairing after your conflicts with your partner is one of the most critical aspects for a marriage. It might even be the most critical. If you do not repair, you just create more problems later on and you drive an emotional wedge between you. Repair is not an easy thing to do for two reasons that you will hear in this episode.    One of these reasons is the whole purpose of this episode… you do not identify the real root cause of the conflict. Most people just try and move on, but this will only have the problem repeat. In this episode are 5 root causes of conflicts that you need to reflect on in your repair process so that you can actually address and change the actions that are needed in your relationship.    If you want to listen to the replay of the full webclass on this topic, just use this link here: Why Are We Arguing Again Webclass. Then if you are wanting to better use these root causes in your repair process, be sure you get the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide so you can s

Is it just random and based on your inherent personality traits whether you are a great spouse and partner? What if it wasn’t so much about your personality traits anyway, as it was other character traits that you could develop along the way? That would feel encouraging and empowering to us, and it should to you as well!  To us it doesn’t matter as much about the personality traits that you come into a relationship with. The fact is everyone is different and that makes every relationship unique in the dynamics that will happen based on your trait differences. However, as you will hear in this episode, there are 4 crucial traits that you can proactively develop that will make you a great partner consistently! No matter what your personality these traits can and should be developed to have a great marriage.   Resources For Your Relationship: We don't do this often so make sure you attend our FREE LIVE WebClass on March 30th, 2023: Why Are We Arguing Again? a weblcass to identify the real root causes of conflict

We don't do this often so make sure you attend our FREE LIVE WebClass on March 30th, 2023: Why Are We Arguing Again? a weblcass to identify the real root causes of conflict so you can ultimately resolve them When a challenge comes up in your life or you have a conflict with your partner, do you shrink down to your default responses or rise to the occasion? When you face situations that call for you to change a pattern of behavior or adjust your willingness to have the hard but necessary conversations do you resist or embrace it? Today’s episode is all about becoming a “Resilient” versus “Resistant” couple. A resistant couple is going to find themselves in the same patterns of conflict, results in life, and attitudes toward each other. To break out of these patterns you need to adopt the mindset of being resilient. You will hear examples of ways to adopt this new mentality so that you can make the real change you desire in your marriage and face life’s challenges as a team!   Ongoing Resources For Your Relatio

Red flags in regards to relationships are warning signs. But often these warning signs are spoken about as a reflection into the past as a reason to have gotten out of the relationship earlier.  Though this is a fine practice if you are dating or even engaged, when it comes to a committed marriage, these red flags signify something different. These red flags are not reasons for you to leave the marriage at all, these are signs you want to be on the lookout for throughout your years together to help signal you both about the patterns that need to shift in your relationship together.  In this episode you will hear which red flags you should be on the lookout for and then come together to figure out what needs to shift between the two of you. You will get examples of types of changes to make for each red flag so that you are constantly on the same page, growing closer together, and better managing the challenges that arise in life.   Resources For Your Relationship: NEW REPAIR GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repa

At this point you know that arguments are going to happen. It’s not the right goal to try and not have them. It’s all about the repair. Now a big problem that you have likely experienced yourself is that when you try and come back to the conversation, it just escalates and you relive the whole argument. Now you are probably even more angry and frustrated with each other.  So in this episode we take you through an argument we just had 3 days ago while we were at the airport coming back from a trip. This one we did not keep from escalating and disconnecting us for over 24 hours. But then we did debrief our argument to find the root cause and resolve it together. You will authentically hear from us the mistakes even we made, but how you can debrief after an argument so that you too can shorten your argument hangovers and be able to learn the value lessons from an argument and change the patterns for the future! MAKE SURE YOU GET THE NEW REPAIR GUIDE: A step-by-step guide to repairing after an argument; to ensure

In a marriage is it right to have expectations or does that just set you up for failure? If the answer is no, is it even the right goal to not have any expectations at all? When it comes down to your practical day to day life with your partner, the fact is you will have expectations, this cannot be avoided. Expectations are also the root cause of all your upsets. So what to do? In this episode you will hear about the expectations that are unfair and unrealistic to have because they will cause the biggest problems for you. If you can be open enough to communicate these with your partner you will be able to have a much smoother journey in marriage. There still will be times that conflict comes up from your “local” expectations momentarily. To repair these conflicts quickly, get the step-by-step guide to ensure it’s resolved for good and get back to being truly connected as a couple. It’s the Making Up & Moving Forward Guide and it’s only $19.

Love can feel simple and effortless in the beginning stages of a relationship, but it's not always easy to maintain that feeling over time. In this episode, we explore the 5 essential parts of love in a marriage that can help couples maintain and even grow their love for each other. We discuss how each part of love plays a crucial role in building a strong and mature relationship, and why neglecting any one of these parts can lead to challenges and struggles. We dive into the importance of passion and desire, friendship and companionship, safety and trust, shared experiences, and commitment in a marriage. We explore the common mistakes couples make in relationships and provide practical advice on how to nurture each part of love in a way that can strengthen a couple's bond. Whether you're in the early stages of a relationship or have been married for years, this episode will provide insights and tips to help you create a lasting and fulfilling marriage. Get the Making Up & Moving Forward guide here - get