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You walk into the conversation thinking, Okay, this time we’re talking about money. Or parenting. Or sex. Or the thing you agreed on and nobody followed through.

And somehow you still end up in the exact same place: confusion, defensiveness, frustration, and that familiar emotional hangover that lasts way longer than the argument.

In this episode of Love Shack Live, we unpack the real reason couples keep having the same fight on repeat.

Because here’s the twist: most fights stop being about the topic pretty quickly. Once you blamed, misunderstood, or threatened, self-protection takes over and logic doesn’t stand a chance.

You’ll learn how to spot the pattern that’s driving your conflict, why “just communicate better” never works, and what it actually takes to interrupt the cycle in the small window you have before things escalate.

Plus, Staci and Tom revisit their infamous alarm clock fight (yes, again) to show you what it looks like to move from the “courtroom” mindset to the “classroom” mindset… and why understanding the emotional drivers changes everything.

And you’ll leave with a surprisingly fun pattern interrupt you can try the next time things start heating up.

If you’re listening and thinking, This is us, this episode is your next right step.

Timestamps: 

03:17 The 12 Critical Categories in Relationships

04:44 Recognizing and Addressing Behavior Patterns

05:48 The Courtroom vs. The Classroom

15:23 The Alarm Clock Story: A Case Study

22:25 Finding Solutions Through Understanding

25:53 Understanding Your Partner's Experience

28:34 The Impact of Personalization and Defensiveness

30:04 Emotional Coping and Linking Events

32:04 The Importance of Listening

34:13 Breaking the Cycle of Misunderstanding

44:12 Practical Tools for Conflict Resolution

49:55 Pattern Interrupt Dance Party

51:36 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Want personalized help breaking your pattern?

If you’re stuck in cycles and you want a clear next step, schedule a Clarity Call: https://stacibartley.com/apply

This isn’t about fixing your partner. It’s about identifying the pattern you’re in and learning the skills to interrupt it.