31/10/2024
Gottman Marriage Minute
The Spiritual Dimension
Thriving relationships have a spiritual dimension that has to do with creating an inner life together—a culture rich with symbols and rituals and an appreciation for your roles and goals that bind you together.
Take some time to examine your rituals. What rituals can you renew? What can you change or add? What’s outdated?
Here are some rituals to examine this season:
Waking up, waking one another up
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, &/or coffee together
Bedtime
Leaving one another
Reuniting
Handling finances
Athletics/exercise
Celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
Taking care of each other when sick
Renewing your spirit
Recreation, games, play
Dates and romantic evenings
Watching television
Running errands, doing chores
Doing schoolwork
Soothing other people’s feelings
Apologizing or repairing feelings after an argument
Common hobbies
Making art
Discovering what kinds of rituals you would like to introduce, change, or continue in your relationship will help you in many ways: to feel the comfort and trust that comes from relying on regular routines, turning towards each other, building stronger bonds, and inevitably deepening your emotional connection.
The more shared meaning you can find, the deeper, richer, and more rewarding your relationship will be.
The Gottman Institute