Learn how to stay engaged during conflict in positive ways that help to strengthen the relationship.

Contempt rounds out the last of the 4 Horsemen and we saved the worst for last!  Just being plain ol' mean after losing respect and appreciation of your partner is one of the fastest ways to head to divorce court.  

The emotional disconnect we experience during conflict or difficult conversations can be referred to as stonewalling.  Silent treatment is an extreme form of stonewalling and Meredith goes on to describe other, more subtle, ways this 4 Horsemen style can enter into relationships and do damage.

Defensiveness is another of the 4 Horsemen we've been talking about, so in the episode, Meredith shares more details about what defensiveness looks like and strategies we can use to reduce and eliminate this toxic style of communicating.

In this episode, Meredith goes into more detail of all the different decisions and stressors that can make the holidays feel really tough on a relationship.  With practical guidance for ongoing communication and some compromise strategies, we hope this holiday season is your best one yet for your relationship!

This episode helps distinguish between criticism and a complaint and gives the listener ideas for how to speak up about your needs in a helpful way.

It's a tough pill to swallow sometimes, but we can't wait for others to change before we begin working to improve our relationships.  Change begins with you.  Meredith walks us through this sometimes touchy subject and gives encouragement for how we can have a perspective shift to allow for a more flexible approach to ourselves and others in the improvement of our relationships.