04/17/2025
It’s natural to want your partner to act a certain way—listen more, be more affectionate, help out more often. But here’s the truth: you can’t control your partner’s behavior.
What you can control is how you express your needs, how you manage your emotions, and how you choose to show up in your relationship.
Instead of demanding change, focus on sharing your positive needs. Express what you would like to happen (positive) instead of what you want to stop (negative).
“I’d love it if we spent more one-on-one time together this week,” is more effective than “You never make time for me.”
You can also choose to turn toward bids for connection—those small moments when your partner reaches out, even subtly. And when conflict arises, try to respond with curiosity instead of criticism.
You have power—not over them, but over how you communicate, connect, and care.
Today, identify one positive need and share it gently. Let your actions lead with love and see how your partner responds.
