Chris & Patrice Thompson chat with us about navigating marriage. From their vision of success to disagreements to growing together, The Thompsons keep it real! In this episode, we'll be diving deep into their motivations behind starting Marriage Matters, what it means to them personally, and the valuable lessons they've learned along the way as a married couple. We're excited to hear about their drive to share information and help others build strong, healthy relationships.So sit back, relax, and join us as we explore the fascinating world of marriage.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:

The start of Marriage Matters [2:32]

• Patrice and Chris Thompson share their personal experiences with marriage and the challenges they faced early on

• They found comfort in knowing that they were not alone in their struggles

• They started Marriage Matters as a way to support other couples going through similar challenges

• Their goal is to help couples build and maintain happy, healthy marriages

• They emphasize the importance of creating a safe space for couples to come together and share their experiences and learn from one another

• They believe that hearing from other couples who have gone through similar challenges can help to strengthen marriages

• They hope to reduce the divorce rate by providing a supportive community and sharing valuable insights and advice.

What does success in marriage look like? [8:03]

• Open communication and the ability to talk about anything, even difficult topics.

• Being able to be oneself in a relationship and accepting and liking one's partner for who they are. 

• Financial issues can be a factor in failed marriages but do not necessarily define success in a marriage. 

• Willingness to not give up and to do whatever it takes to make it work.

• Self-reflection is important in evaluating contributions to the relationship Open communication helps resolve conflicts and work through challenges.

• Sincerity in efforts to maintain and strengthen the relationship is key.

• Having safe spaces

• Alignment in values

Communication is important [13:49] 

• Lack of communication can create distance and drive a wedge between partners

• Vocalizing emotions and feeling safe in that space is crucial for successful communication

• A safe space for communication includes no fear of having your words used against you

• Being able to express emotions and work through them together is beautiful and crucial for a successful relationship

The haze of building a successful marriage [20:41]

• Pride can be a major hurdle in building a successful marriage

• Expectations of what a marriage should be can lead to difficulty in admitting fault or making changes

• Prior experiences and upbringing can shape one's view of what a successful marriage looks like

• Every relationship is unique and what works for one couple may not work for another

• Flexibility and willingness to adjust the recipe of success is key

Things they wish they’d known before marriage [41:22]

• It's important to have respectful disagreements and follow-up conversations to get on the same page in a marriage.

• Continuing counseling, even after premarital counseling, can be helpful for checking in on the marriage.

• It's important to learn how to hold space and have "me time" in a marriage.

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