https://n2v.almanacnews.com/blogs/p/print/2020/11/20/premarital-and-couples-giving-thanks

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Premarital and Couples: Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a holiday that I like personally, and as a therapist. A gratitude practice year-round is a great tool for your relationship.

The focus on what is wrong is prevalent. I see so much striving for perfection here in Silicon Valley, to the detriment of self and your partner, too. I will say it again: I have never met or seen perfection.

Dr. John Gottman's research has shown that couples who stay married have five positive interactions for every poor interaction. So please, use gratitude practice to manufacture many positive interactions.

Appreciate your partner. Here are a few ideas:

Greet your partner every day when he or she walks in the door. Put down your device, walk over, give a two minute belly hug, say hi, ask about his or her day.
Give him or her a hug out of the blue.
Say thanks and acknowledge the everyday chores.
Tell your partner that you said a nice thing about him or her to someone you know.
Admire your partner to your kids: "Isn't Mommy/Daddy thoughtful, wonderful, smart, funny . . . "

Always put more into your relationship.

The truth is, doing things for your partner actually does come back to you. It's up to you if those will be positive.

You've heard this phrase: "See what you get. This is because of how you've been acting." What if this were a positive UPWARD spiral, not a downward one?

Thank you to my clients, my readers, my friends and family. You matter to me; you change my life.