"We often associate " growth" with something lofty and abstract, like a vision board goal rather than a lived, daily experience. Sure, these tools can serve as reminders of our goals, but in practice, "micro-behaviors" or small, almost forgettable actions are what slowly shift the emotional tone and expectations within a partnership. These moments may not be headline-worthy, but they are the true scaffolding of a relationship that allows both individuals to explore, expand, and evolve."
"When you've been with someone for a while, it's easy to feel like you "know" them. And while familiarity can breed comfort, it can also breed assumptions. We start to auto-fill the blanks in their behavior: "Oh, he's stressed again." "She's clearly mad at me." "They always do this when they're annoyed." But the truth is that assuming shuts off further discussion. Asking opens it up."
Growth in relationships often occurs through small, everyday micro-behaviors rather than lofty goals. These subtle actions gradually shift emotional tone and expectations, creating scaffolding that enables partners to explore and evolve. Asking questions instead of making assumptions opens dialogue, while assuming shuts down further discussion. A 2017 study published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass indicates that feeling understood does not always align with actually being understood. Practicing mindfulness within a partnership increases the likelihood of thoughtful responses rather than emotional reactions, supporting long-term relational change through consistent, attentive habits.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]