You don’t always have to agree with your partner to show respect and care.
Validation is about seeing and acknowledging another person’s feelings, even if you don’t feel the same way. For example:
- “I get why you’d be upset about that.”
- “That makes a lot of sense.”
- “I can see why you feel that way.”
- “Thanks for sharing that with me; I’m glad you trust me enough to open up about it.”
In contrast, agreement is about sharing the same opinion. For example:
- “You’re totally right; she was wrong for doing that.”
- “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
- “Everyone would agree with you on that!”
News flash: You can validate your partner’s feelings without changing your own mind.
When you validate your partner, it’s a SIMPLE way to make them feel heard, understood, and respected. And it’s a game-changer for your relationship!
The next time your partner shares a feeling with you, try a validation statement and then simply show curiosity about their experience of the situation. Put your own feelings aside and see what happens. This even works for text conversations.
If you need help with your relationship communication, reach out today for your free phone consultation.
