The Simple, Fail Proof Tool to Improve Your Marriage
Dr. John Schinnerer
What if I were to tell you there are scientifically proven tools that will quickly and easily improve your relationship with your spouse? Would you be curious?
As it happens, there are proven tools that you can learn to improve your relationship with your spouse. And this same tool, that I am going to share with you here, even works with your children and coworkers. What’s more, it’s free and simple.
This tool comes from the work of Dr. John and Julie Gottman, the world’s best researchers on marriages — what makes couples successful and what leads to divorce.
What Do Successful Couples Do Better Than Those Heading Towards a Divorce?
Dr. Gottman wanted to learn which habits might distinguish between successful and unsuccessful couples. He followed a group of couples for 6 years. Roughly half the couples remained together while half divorced. And there was one astonishing difference between these two groups — the successful, happy couples excelled at turning towards rather than turning away. Successful couples turned towards one another 86% of the time, while couples who wound up divorced turned towards only 33% of the time.
What’s the secret? The secret is turning towards.
What is Turning Towards?
This one piece of data is incredible in its simplicity and power. It tells us that there is one simple habit you can work on which will help solidify the health of your marriage. And one simple habit which, if ignored, may lead to the end of your marriage.
This one habit is something which you can begin to experiment with beginning today. And wherever you currently are, you can immediately begin to improve. Gottman calls this habit bids for attention. A bid is an attempt by one person for another person’s attention, affection or another positive point of connection. In essence, it is an attempt to connect. A bid might be a touch on the arm, a wink, a smile, a request for help, or a simple ask (“Did I tell you about what happened at school today?”).
The Importance of Bids
These connection points are incredibly important. Why? Because when these bids are received negatively (“Stop pestering me.”) or neutrally (i.e., ignoring the bid), the bids for attention gradually stop. And when the bids stop, communication and connection slowly wither and die.
How To Spot Bids
Bids can happen quickly and if you’re not paying attention, you can miss them. In addition, bids often have a hidden meaning just below the surface. So here are a few examples to help you get better at bid-spotting.
Bid: How does this blouse look?
Hidden meaning: Give me a compliment. I'm not sure how I look.
Bid: Let’s do the dishes
Hidden meaning: Help me, please.
Bid: I spoke with my mom today.
Hidden meaning: Will you listen to me?
Bid: Let’s play backgammon.
Hidden meaning: Play with me.
Bid: Sit with me on the couch?
Hidden meaning: Hug me. Hold me.
Bid: I had a rough day at work
Hidden meaning: Help me to de-stress.
Bid: Did you hear about the Millers?
Hidden meaning: Talk with me. Listen to me.
You can miss a bid by “turning away.” That is to say, by ignoring it, not noticing it, or responding negatively to it. Turning away is hugely problematic for relationships. If you respond negatively to a bid, at least you have a chance to repair things. If you continually miss bids, you run the risk of your loved one bidding for attention elsewhere.
How To Respond Positively To Bids
As always, turning towards starts with paying attention. Once you are aware of bids being made, it’s an easy matter to make the effort to tune in and respond positively. For example, responding to bids with the following statements, “Tell me all about it,” “I’d love to hear,” “Sure. Give me a moment and then I can give you my full attention.”
To start, keep it simple.
Ask yourself, “Am I closer to 33% or 86%?” Where would you like to be? During disagreements, ask yourself, “Am I turning towards or turning away?” Begin tuning into the bids of those around you, from your spouse, children, and coworkers. Be open to the hidden meaning beneath the bid. Let go of any irritation you might have at a bid. Don’t think of it as an interruption. Think of it as a positive attempt to connect. Ask yourself how it feels to have your partner turn towards you when you make a bid.
Its simple, but it’s not easy. It takes a bit of attention and effort. And you will find, over time, that it is well worth it.
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