Episode 339: An Honest Conversation about Acceptance in Marriage

Acceptance can be one of the hardest things we're asked to practice in marriage.

Especially when what we're being asked to accept is something we wish would change.

So what does it actually mean to accept your spouse in those moments?

It doesn't mean agreeing.

It doesn't mean approving.

And it certainly doesn't mean making something you don't want the standard for your marriage.

In this episode, we're having an honest conversation about a different kind of acceptance: allowing this to be where your spouse is right now—and releasing yourself from the responsibility of making them be somewhere else.

Inside this episode, we:

Explore the difference between acceptance and settling for something you don't wantTalk about what happens when you stop needing your spouse to think, feel, or behave differently in order for you to be okayExplore how acceptance can help you become clearer about what's yours to work on—and what's theirsDiscuss the unexpected opportunities for your own growth when your spouse isn't showing up the way you wish they wouldLook at how releasing judgment and resistance can create more patience and ease in your relationshipExplore why giving your spouse room to evolve on their own can sometimes create more change than trying to push them thereTalk about how acceptance can actually help you get clearer about what is—and isn't—okay for you

Acceptance doesn't require you to abandon your desires for your marriage.

Sometimes, it does the opposite.

When you stop using all of your energy trying to change where your spouse is, you have more capacity to see clearly, take care of yourself, honor your values, strengthen your own relationship skills, and decide intentionally how you want to move forward.