Reality bites. Marriages have ups and downs, nothing is perfect - neither you nor your partner. Many relationship experts have already expressed their views on this: Open communication is a primary key to a happy marriage.
Below are the five topics you find so difficult to discuss with him or her. Thus, these are actually the things you have to discuss with your better half - no alibis, no dramas.
1. Love for Each Other
You may feel uneasy and uncomfortable saying words of appreciation, gratitude and love to your spouse, especially in front of other people. You assume that since you two are already one in marriage, your partner knows it well and you need not to say it often, whole-heartedly.
However, never underestimate the power of these three words. The term love implies both acceptance and the willingness to place someone's needs ahead of your own. With a deep breath and a leap of faith, close your eyes, whisper the words and expect to see "changes" in the relationship.
2. Secrets and Desires
One of the biggest roadblocks to growth in a marriage happens when spouses begin to hide something from each other. Secrecy is an enemy of intimacy. Confess whatever you're hiding and bring it out in the open. Though it might be really uncomfortable at first, but eventually, your honesty will lead to "transformation and growth in your marriage".
3. Intimacy and Affection
Sometimes, even the healthiest married couples struggle to honestly communicate their needs and desires when it comes to intimacy and romance. But not being able to discuss this with your partner may lead to some serious emotional pains and anxiety. Ideally, you have to open things like frequency of making love as well as one's passion and satisfaction over intimacy as this is just another opportunity for communication and growth.
4. Blind Spots
Researchers Thomas Bradbury and Frank Fincham studied the link of certain explanation for events and marriage satisfaction. Their research showed that spouses who attribute their partner's mistakes to situational factors were in happier marriages than those that blame their spouse's faults on personal attributes.
Blind spots are areas of your life that you have been struggling with over quite sometime. These may also refer to your lacking awareness or anything that you are not very skilled, inclined, or talented in. You feel not so comfortable disclosing to your spouse such sort of gap in your abilities. Thus, you should try to unleash these baggages so as you could let him or her understand you as well as your thoughts and opinions. Remember your lifetime partners and you shall fill each other's gaps.
5. Fear
This is beyond your and his weaknesses. Ideally, you, especially for the husbands, might think that letting your spouse know your greatest fear decreases your ability to face any struggles and challenges that life may bring.
It pays to learn how to open up oneself to your spouse as this could help you strengthen your marriage and keep your relationship stronger that ever.