It was extremely difficult for me to contribute to the process. I was so hard on both of us, that it felt nearly impossible to overcome it. Every passing day is taking us a step closer to removing this distance as both of us are working to build a strong future together.
Ending up in a broken relationship can be one of the most challenging experiences in life. However, all hope is not lost. There are steps you can take to try and fix it.
Rebuilding trust and cultivating vulnerability are crucial for repairing a broken relationship. Schumann and Dragotta proposed that you need to start by being able to empathize with the person you’ve offended. Rebuilding a broken relationship is difficult – both parties have to face the animosity and distrust that drove you apart in the first place. If you’re looking to rebuild a broken relationship from your past, reconnect with the person through text, email, or online. If both of you find a common ground to work on your relationship, start nourishing it by being true to yourself and each other. Communicating your intentions is of no use if you cannot express your feelings.
Communicate Openly and Honestly
Communication is key in any relationship. Sit down with your partner and talk about what has gone wrong. Be open and honest about your feelings and listen to their perspective as well. Avoid blaming each other and instead focus on finding solutions together.
Appreciating things around you and acknowledging the everyday gestures they do can go a long way in improving the mindfulness of your relationship. These little steps will help you to manage your expectations from your partner and become more realistic about the growth you will experience. As you make more time to see each other and keep the spark alive, notice their efforts without focusing on the outcome.
Another suggestion to help you learn the process of communicating with more honesty and kindness, check out the Save Your Marriage Workbook. However, repeated research from The Gottman Institute shows it works to help couples have disagreements without fighting. Instead of a scheduled long weekend, try planning a short amount of time where you’ll focus on enjoying each other’s company. We work with busy CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and employees with high-paying jobs, and we know this all too well – when people put work, kids, and other things above their relationship, soon it catches up. Bit by bit, the couple feels distant and struggles to enjoy each other’s company. What was good is now tainted with the fear of a looming fight.
Seemingly out of nowhere, and certainly out of character, one or both stop the interaction or take it to a more caring place. They have a shared knowledge that certain words or ways of being may hurt too much to ever heal from, or some actions from the past cut too deeply. Sadly, that underlying knowledge does not always keep them from walking too close to that cliff, and many relationships end because of that sacrilege. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, one of them refers to an experience they’ve shared in the past or something that is happening between them, and they both start to laugh. The tension is immediately gone, even for just a moment, and both look at one another as if they are really just good friends playing at hating each other. Couples who have lost each other’s trust and support, whether just recently or over a long period of time, may still show concern when expressing authentic heartbreak.
Seek Professional Help
You may not know how to restore broken relationships, but by making a pact to be a team to fix the problems, you begin an alchemical process that leads to healing. If you try and lock yourself into a specific dating moratorium, you may miss out on some pleasant experiences with potentially long-term partners. This can get your brain out of the “pain begets pain” rut when you allow negative thoughts to drive your behavior. Engaging in ongoing self-improvement allows you to identify areas where you can grow and evolve as a person.
If you feel like you and your partner are unable to resolve your issues on your own, consider seeking counseling from a therapist or counselor. A neutral third party can help facilitate discussions and provide guidance on how to improve your relationship.
Make Time for Each Other
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be easy to neglect spending quality time with your partner. Make an effort to prioritize your relationship by setting aside dedicated time to connect and bond with each other.
Practice Forgiveness
Forgiveness is essential in repairing a broken relationship. It’s important to let go of past grievances and move forward with a clean slate. Remember that nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes. By forgiving each other, you can start rebuilding trust and intimacy in your relationship.
By following these steps and being patient and committed, you can work towards fixing your broken relationship and creating a stronger bond with your partner.
