Marriage is one of life's greatest teachers. What marriage teaches you, however, depends on how wise of a student you're willing to be. One of my listeners put me in the hot seat, asking, "What have you learned over the course of being married to Shaun for 25 years, and what has your marriage taught you about yourself?"

I'm sharing several candid insights from my 25-year marriage journey, including:

1. My Not-So-Pretty Self-Discovery: Marriage unveiled a side of me I never knew existed. Learn the importance of being aware of your tendencies and always working on yourself.

2. Following God’s Blueprint: I have learned throughout my marriage the value of following God's ways in building a successful marriage. Or keep trying it your way and let me know how it goes.

3. Understanding the Purpose of Marriage: My marriage has helped me grow into who God has purposed me to be. I'm sharing how.  

The episode goes beyond surface-level advice and offers heartfelt and practical insights, empowering you to approach your marriages with the right mindset and intentions.

Whether you're newly married or have been on the journey for years, this episode provides valuable perspectives on how to make marriage a fulfilling and transformative experience.

Remember to grab my free "Ultimate Couples Checklist" to help you build a healthy and thriving marriage at danache.com/ultimatecouple.

Have a relationship or marriage question you want me to answer on the show? Email or connect with me on Instagram.

 

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Intimacy is often a misunderstood concept in marriage and is traditionally reduced to just sex. However, there are five different types of intimacy that can cultivate a healthier and more wholehearted marriage.

Five Types of Intimacy in Marriage:

1. Spiritual Intimacy:

• • • The importance and practicality of being spiritually aligned with your spouse.

2. Emotional Intimacy:

• Recognizing and embracing your emotional self and providing a safe spouse for your spouse

3. Physical Intimacy:

• Going beyond sex to understand your spouse’s physical touch needs.

4. Intellectual Intimacy:

• Engaging intellectually with your partner and continuous learning and sharing of ideas.

5. Recreational/Experiential Intimacy:

• Building shared experiences and memories while maintaining friendship and fun in your marriage.

Through today’s episode, you’ll learn practical ways to nurture and enhance each intimacy type in your marriage.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Take my “How Connected a Partner Are You?” Quiz

Ep. 52: Making Love Outside the Bedroom - with Shaun Williams

 

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What do you do when your words of affirmation miss the mark? This is a concern a listener and many spouses face, especially when trying to love an "unappreciative spouse." If you’ve ever felt like your heartfelt compliments are being met with sarcasm or jabs rather than gratitude, this episode is for you.

Topics We Discuss:

1. Understanding Communication Gaps: Learn how to bridge the disconnect between expressing words of affirmation and your spouse's reception. Hear how genuine affirmations rooted in appreciation for 'who they are' rather than 'what they do' can make a big difference.
2. Building Emotional Well-Being: I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Explore how encouraging and uplifting words contribute to emotional well-being. 
3. Handling Resentment: Gain insights into addressing potential resentment that may be present underneath the snide remarks. Learn how to better support your spouse, recognizing their efforts in everyday moments.
4. Practical Tips for Meaningful Affirmations: From the warmth of eye contact to understanding your spouse’s preferred mode of communication, discover various methods to make your appreciation felt and acknowledged.

 

You Might Also Like: 

Get My Conversation Starters for Couples in Conflict FREE Guide Here 

Ep. 123 - 5 Gifts Your Spouse Will Love 

Ep. 282 - Burnout of the Busy Wife- When Giving Too Much = Loving Less

 

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you ready to transform your marriage and bring back that sense of wonder? Here’s a sneak peek into what you'll discover in this episode:

- Embrace the New: We explore how the new year offers a perfect opportunity to hit the reset button on your relationship and breathe new life into your marriage.

- Finding Joy in the Ordinary: Learn how noticing and appreciating the little things your spouse does can reignite wonder and admiration in your partnership.

- 4 Practical Steps to Rediscover Wonder: From cultivating gratitude to prioritizing fun and adventure, I've laid out four actionable steps to help you and your spouse reconnect and experience newfound joy.

- Must-Read Resource: Discover insights from Tim Keller's book, "The Meaning of Marriage," and why prioritizing spiritual intimacy can deepen your emotional and physical bond.

- Special Offers: Don’t miss out on our free Heart-to-Heart Conversation Starters PDF and my new ebook "Relationship Reset" to jumpstart your journey towards a more fulfilling marriage.

Are you feeling burnt out and exhausted, struggling to find time for your relationship? It's time to create margin and prioritize what truly matters. Remember, your marriage can be as wonderful as you're willing to work for it to be.

Reflect on this: When was the last time you looked at your spouse with awe and wonder? If it’s been a while, let's change that this year.

Like the show? Be sure to give it a five-star rating and wrte a review!

 

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I received a heartfelt question from a wife who feels underappreciated in her marriage She wants to know how to get her husband to pay more attention to her and if she needs to play hard to get to do so. Together, with thoughtful insights from my husband, Shaun, we explore practical steps to re-engage a distant spouse . . . the real way.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• Discover how to effectively communicate your needs and desires in your marriage.

• Learn to set healthy boundaries that garner mutual respect.

• Explore ways to bring balance and authenticity to your marriage.

• Understand the importance of continual pursuit in marriage and how it mirrors our spiritual journey of seeking and growing in faith.

Faithful Fridays: Our New Approach

Starting this year, every Friday episode will blend relationship advice with a faith perspective, empowering you to build marriages that are not only rooted in love but also in purpose and divine guidance.

Resources to Help You Further:

Don't miss out on my Heart to-Heart Conversation Starters. They're designed to help you approach difficult conversations with confidence and clarity.

Ep. 169: Tricks are for Kids: 7 Mind Games to Stop Playing in Your Relationship

Have a relationship question you want answered on the show? Email me or send me a DM on Instagram. 

 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help more couples discover tools to enrich their marriages.

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What a year it has been! As we wrap up 2024, I can't help but reflect on all the moments that have shaped us this year. Whether you're celebrating the goals you crushed or learning from the challenges you faced, let's take a moment to acknowledge the journey.

In this episode, we explored the highs and lows of the year, shared stories of triumph and growth, and looked ahead with hope for what 2025 may hold. Here's a glimpse of what we discussed:

• The importance of celebrating both big and small victories.
• How to carry forward goals into the new year with optimism.
• The significance of shared goals and renewed commitments in relationships.
• Encouragement to have unwavering hope and faith for the future.

As we step into 2025, I invite you to renew your commitments, both personal and relational, and to navigate the new year with intentionality. Remember, if you did it before, you can do it again!

Wishing you a happy and fulfilling new year, filled with purpose and legacy!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 

Get Your Free “Ultimate Couple’s Checklist” for Creating Lasting Intimacy in Your Marriage

How to Create a Vision for Your Marriage

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It's a common marriage conundrum: how to deal with a messy spouse. In this episode, a listener, Sam, has been feeling overwhelmed by her husband's messiness. Newly married, she's discovering new realities of cohabitation that many of us can relate to. If you've faced similar struggles, or are facing them now, this episode is for you.

Here’s a sneak peek into what we covered in the episode:

1. Setting Boundaries: Learn how to set personal boundaries that respect both you and your spouse. It might mean creating a new space for yourself or simply refusing to pick up after your spouse. Remember, boundaries are about what YOU will or won’t do.

2. Creating Systems: Implement a household chore chart to divide responsibilities fairly. We could all use a little structure to ensure tasks don't fall through the cracks. I offer my premarital counseling clients this resource.

3. Uncovering Hidden Causes: Explore with your spouse the root of their habitual messiness. Sometimes, clutter is a mask for deeper emotions like stress or feeling out of control. Addressing the root causes can bring about lasting change.

4. Person vs. Performance: Separate your spouse’s behavior from who they are as a person. Understanding this distinction can ease frustration and foster more compassion in your marriage.

As always, we're here to support you in rebuilding and nurturing your marriage. If you have a marriage question you want to be answered on the show, reach out via Instagram DM  or email here.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 

Get your FREE "Ultimate Couple's Checklist": 5 Simple Steps to Create More Intimacy

Like the show? Give it a five-star rating, and I'd love for you to write a review!

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Expectations play a vital role in shaping marriages. In part two of my conversation with Mark and Jill Savage, we explore how four expectations in marriage can set a couple up for success. Expectations will either bring two people closer together or create a rift between them. This is why it’s important to learn to manage expectations within marriage. As a marriage coach, I've had the privilege of excavating the intricacies of marriages that, at their core, are molded by the expectations we hold. The Savages and I share personal experiences from our marriage journeys of rebuilding after infidelity. Listen and learn how understanding and realigning expectations can greatly impact and enhance your marriage.

Key Takeaways: 

• See Conflict as a Catalyst for Growth:
  Conflict should be expected and embraced in a relationship. 
• Learn to Navigate Disappointments:
  Accept that disappointment is part of any partnership. 
• Continue Investing in Your Marriage:
  Just like any worthwhile endeavor, marriage requires ongoing education and investment. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 

Download my "Ultimate Couple's Checklist": 5 Simple Steps for Building More Intimacy in Your Marriage

Learn More About Mark & Jill Savage's marriage resources

Love the show? Be sure to give it a 5-star rating, and I'd love to read your positive review!

Support the show: https://danache.com/donations/support-the-show/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever had suspicions that your spouse was being unfaithful? A listener, triggered by her friend's trauma with infidelity, is in a dilemma. She looked through her husband's phone and didn't like what she saw. We're discussing one of the toughest challenges any marriage can face: the breach of trust when unfaithfulness comes into play in this Q&A segment. 

Here's what we cover:

• Privacy vs. Suspicion

• Spotting the Red Flags:

• Empowering the Wounded Spouse

• Addressing the Infidelity Epidemic:

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Download my "Ultimate Couples Checklist" and bring that spark back into your marriage!

• 12 Signs Your Spouse is Having an Online Affair 

Join the Conversation: I always love hearing from you! If you have your own marriage or relationship questions, send them my way here. 

Support the show: https://danache.com/donations/support-the-show/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When trust is broken in a marriage, many couples feel like marriage restoration is impossible and all hope is lost. However, Mark and Jill Savage’s journey reveals how marriages can heal and even thrive after infidelity. In this episode, they share their incredible testimony of a renewed marriage after a period marked by betrayal, depression, a mid-life crisis, and near-divorce. Their story offers incredible insights and encouragement for anyone who feels hopeless in their marriage.

Their marriage restoration story is nothing short of a miracle and an incredible testament to the restorative power of forgiveness and repentance. 

This was such a great conversation that I had to break it up into two parts! 

Listen to part one today and be encouraged that ANYTHING is possible to the one who believes.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 

No More Perfect Podcast

Learn More About Mark & Jill’s Story & Services

Get Your Free Ultimate Couple’s Checklist 

Thanks for listening! Please give the podcast a 5-star rating and write a review is this episode encourages you. 

Support the show: https://danache.com/donations/support-the-show/

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