Managing Conflict in Partnerships Relationships Let's Talk About It!

My wife, Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky is the founder of Artsy Goddess Studio, an upcycled clothing design business in Black Mountain. Yvonne empowers women to express themselves and helps them discover and connect with their unique authenticity as the host of women’s gatherings at her home each month and through voice empowering workshops. In addition to her work with empowering women, she also works with me to co-facilitate couple’s workshops designed to support couples and partners while helping them develop deeper connections and stronger relationships.
 
Yvonne joins me today to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of our relationship and share how we manage conflicts and settle disagreements in our marriage. We dive into the origins of our unhealthy response patterns and identify the unhealthy behaviors that should be dealt with as soon as possible. We also discuss what to do when someone flares up and share several great strategies that will help you manage conflicts in your relationships and transform behaviors for the better.
  
 “Our relationship is a living organism that has its own life. We have to nourish that.” - Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky
 
 
This week on Relationships! Let’s Talk About It:
 
How we handled conflicts in our relationship early on. Why managing conflict is a better focus than resolving conflicts. Why conflicts around money are often considered ‘unresolvable’. How my perspective on money - and its use - differs from Yvonne’s and how we manage this conflict instead of trying to resolve it. The importance of being curious and interested about your partner’s perspective on a conflict or problem. The impact of wallowing and getting stuck in a problem or conflict. The importance of feeding positivity into your relationship - especially during a conflict. The art of apologizing and how it helps you manage conflicts in your relationship. The importance of taking accountability and responsibility for your mistakes during a disagreement. An example of how we resolved a conflict related to my frequent mistake of putting dirty dishes with clean dishes in the dishwasher. The importance of understanding the underlying issues that come up during a disagreement or conflict. Why contempt is considered the number one poison in a relationship. Why it’s important for parents to model healthy communication during conflicts. How Yvonne’s upbringing led to how she used to manage and deal with conflict. How to set safe guidelines around how you will manage disagreements in your relationships. The difference between having an intense emotion around a problem or issue and yelling. Why yelling is notan effective way to address problems, issues, or conflicts and what to do instead. Strategies we use to calm down during a heated disagreement. Why stress does not always equate being productive or working hard on your relationship. The importance of couples encouraging each other to take care of themselves and nurture themselves. Guarding yourself against the Four Horsemen. What cross-complaining is and some examples. Why you shouldn’t bring up “deal breakers” during a heated conversation - unless you’re truly ready to end the relationship. Tips on how to ensure that you share the power, time, and space with your partner. The power of touch and the right attitude when touching your partner. Why it’s important to talk about agreements on how you will fight and when to do it.  
 
Connect with Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky:
 
Artsy Goddess Studio  
 
Playful Voice Empowering Workshop
 
Embrace the power of your voice. Join my wife and facilitator, Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky, for the Playful Voice Empowering Workshop, an empowering experience to unlock your natural superpower in a safe group environment. Using gentle movement and supportive expressive techniques such as guided voice strategies, Yvonne takes you on an empowering journey - teaching you how to use your voice to quic