19. Actions That Can Make An Immediate Difference

Actions That Can Make An Immediate Difference

The following is not a list to tell you what you should or should not do in your marriage or relationship. Rather it is a list of possible actions that you might consider that can immediately shift the atmosphere in your relationship or home.

• Make a point of greeting your spouse when you see each after a day at work with a kiss, a hug, or simply “hello!”
• Phone when you are going to be later than expected
• Use one another’s name when speaking to each other
• Be home when you say you are going to be home or call to explain

• Give up a “singles” activity that separates you or causes discord
• Make a point of saying “good night” to one another before going to bed
• Leave a note for your spouse in the morning if you’re leaving before the other awakens. Keep it simple, such as “Good morning”, “Have a nice day”, “You’re special”, “I enjoyed last night”
• Cease all swearing or name calling
• Do an extra chore around the house
• Pick up after yourself, if you have a habit of leaving things lying around
• Turn off the TV earlier than usual
• If your spouse is a TV watcher and you aren’t, sit and watch TV together for one program
  Find an activity you can do together
• Acknowledge a special quality of your spouse in every dialogue letter
• Cease all criticism
• Call during the day just to say hi. Keep the conversation short. Don’t go on and on.
• Participate in your community together

Go to the next journaling exercise: My Life Path

Click here to download the pdf version.

*Journaling exercises written by Cort Curtis, Ph.D, used with permission.