How you spend your money is just one of the things on which you and your spouse will disagree. You are bound to have different viewpoints about a variety of topics, so it’s important to learn how to deal with your differences respectfully and effectively. The University of Texas at Austin provides the following ground rules for fighting fair.
Remain calm. Try not to overreact to difficult situations. Your partner is more likely to consider your viewpoint if you remain calm.
Express feelings in words, not actions. If you start to feel so angry or upset that you feel you may lose control, take a “time out.” Take a walk, do some deep breathing, play with the dog, write in your journal—whatever works for you.
Be specific about what is bothering you. Vague complaints are hard to work on. Deal with only one issue at a time. Don’t introduce other topics until each is fully discussed. This avoids the “kitchen sink” effect where people throw in all their complaints while not allowing anything to be resolved.
No hitting below the belt. Attacking areas of personal sensitivity creates an atmosphere of distrust, anger, and vulnerability. Avoid accusations. Talk about how your partner’s actions or words made you feel. If you make accusations, your partner will be likely to defend their actions rather than focus on understanding you.
Try not to generalize. Avoid words like “never” or “always.” Such generalizations are usually inaccurate and will heighten tensions. Avoid make believe. Exaggerating or inventing a complaint—or your feelings about it—will prevent the real issues from surfacing.
Stick with the facts and your honest feelings. Don’t stockpile. Storing up lots of grievances and hurt feelings over time is counterproductive. It’s almost impossible to deal with numerous old problems for which recollections may differ. Try to deal with problems as they arise.
Avoid clamming up. Positive results can only be attained with two-way communication. When one person becomes silent and stops responding to the other, frustration and anger can result. However, if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed or shutting
down, you may need to take a break from the discussion. Just let
your partner know you will return to the conversation as soon as
you are able and then don’t forget to follow-up.
Establish common ground rules. You may even want to ask your partner to read and discuss this information with you. When both people accept positive common ground rules for managing a conflict, resolution becomes much more likely.
Fair Fighting: Step by Step
- Before you begin, ask yourself, “What exactly is bothering me? What do I want the other person to do or not do? Are my feelings in proportion to the issue?”
- Know what your goals are before you begin. What are the possible outcomes that could be acceptable to you?
- Remember that the idea is not to win but to come to a mutually satisfying solution to the problem…
Read the full article on The Village Financial Resource Center website.
