Have you ever felt like your spouse was a shell of a person and you couldn't emotionally connect to him/her? I'm addressing a pressing concern shared by a listener and many couples - the struggle of feeling emotionally disconnected in their marriage or relationship. Many in similar situations will resonate deeply with this discussion.

Episode Highlights:

• • Create a Safe Environment:

    I address the importance of creating a space where couples feel safe to share their emotions. Understanding a partner’s background and upbringing can offer insight into their emotional responses.

  • Meet Him Where He Is:

    Engaging in activities your spouse or partner enjoys can naturally open the door to deeper conversations and connection.

  • Lead with Vulnerability:

    By sharing your own struggles and vulnerabilities, you can encourage your spouse to do the same.

  • Affirm Small Steps:

    Acknowledging and affirming small instances of vulnerability can help build trust.

Have a marriage-related question for the show? Send your questions here or DM on Instagram.

Links and Resources:

• Take the "How Connected Are You Partner Quiz"

Tune in next week for another episode of relationship insights and advice!

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.

Can you guess the divorce rate of arranged marriages? The stats might shock you. As an Indian immigrant and an insightful storyteller, Sherene Joseph joins me to discuss the nuanced world of arranged marriages. We’re debunking some common myths and exploring the profound impact of family involvement on choosing spouses, providing listeners with valuable relationship advice that transcends cultural and modern marriage boundaries.

Key Discussion Points:

Intentional Parenting: Emphasizing how parents can be intentional about helping their children prepare for marriage.

Family Dynamics: Sherene shares her personal experience with arranged marriage, the importance of understanding family dynamics, and the reality of such marriages versus common misconceptions.

Love and Commitment: Is love enough for a successful marriage?

Matchmaking: The episode touches on informal matchmaking practices within communities and the role of family in suggesting compatible partners.

Surprise Divorce Statistics: Modern marriages are often rife with divorce. We discuss the divorce stats among arranged marriages vs other marriages.

Resources Mentioned:

Find Sherene's Writings Online

Ep. 151 - What If Married the Wrong Person?

Get Your FREE Ultimate Couple's Checklist Here!

Like the show? Please leave a review! This helps other marriages and relationships grow too!

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.

One listener feels overwhelmed by marriage problems and doesn’t know where or how to start addressing them. In today’s episode, we will discuss how to identify and prioritize marriage issues more effectively. Knowing where to focus can be challenging. How do you tackle your marriage problems without feeling buried under them all? Shaun is also here to give his take and offer guidance on finding patience and purpose amidst the turmoil.

Key Discussion Points:

• Finding Personal Purpose: the importance of recognizing one’s value beyond your career or marital status
• Shaun’s Perspective: developing patience with an at-risk marriage while focusing on self-improvement
• Prioritizing in Marriage: actionable advice on dealing with marriage problems one step at a time, including the importance of recognizing what is currently working and building upon it, while gradually addressing other areas in need of improvement.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Submit your marriage or relationship question for the show here. or send a DM on Instagram

Get your FREE Ultimate Couples Checklist here.

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform. Your feedback is invaluable!

Tune in next time for more insightful discussions on rebuilding and strengthening your marriage!

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.

We've all heard it said—marriage is hard. But what about marriage is so hard? Specifically, what is about your marriage that makes it hard work? In this episode, I’m sharing five reasons your marriage may be harder than it should be. Also, can we reframe that belief? What if instead of seeing marriage as hard work, we saw it as heart work?

Key Points:

• Changing Your Perspective on Marriage
  Reframe the mindset from "marriage is hard work" to "marriage is heart work." Commit to becoming more resilient and seeing challenges as growth opportunities.
• 5 Reasons Marriage Is Hard
  Learn to recognize these common marriage problems: trying to change your partner, wishy-washy commitment, external influences, relying on your own strength, and focusing too much on problems.
• Guarding Influences On Your Marriage
  Discover the importance of guarding your mind, media consumption, and the words you use about your marriage.
• Choose Your Hard
  Make peace with the fact that good things are often hard. Challenges will exist in all areas of life, but “choosing your hard” will help you value what really matters.

Get the full show notes at danache.com/podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Ep. 288: 7 Traits to Create a More Resilient Relationship

Get Your “Ultimate Couples Checklist” to Develop Greater Intimacy

Interested in 1 on 1 Marriage Coaching?

Like the show? Please leave a review! This helps other marriages and relationships grow too!

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.

A husband is seeking advice on how to communicate to his wife that her nurturing behavior sometimes feels smothering and he needs space. They have been together since high school and married for three years. In this episode, we discuss compassionate and clear ways to communicate when you need to tell your spouse something that may be hard to hear.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Understanding the Source Smothering Behavior

2. Identifying the Love Languages of Your Spouse

3. Encouraging Personal Space Without Distancing Yourself

4. The Importance of Honest Communication:

5. What to Change and Preventing Resentment

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Download my "Ultimate Couple's Guide" to reignite the spark in your relationship.

Ask your marriage & relationship questions here or on Instagram.

Like the show? Give it a five-star rating and write a helpful review so others better their relationships too!

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.

We all want lives of meaning. But building your life and relationships on a solid foundation is more complex than simply desire. This topic hits home for pretty much all of us—whether you're hustling in the business world, running after little ones at home, or working a 9-to-5. We all need to pause and ask: What am I living for, really? I reflect on a time I spoke at a business leaders conference; I spoke about the need to shift our focus from simply achieving success as per worldly standards to building a life on a firm foundation. But this dilemma isn’t applicable only to entrepreneurs and pastors. All of us can be tempted to sacrifice what’s most important for what seems most important. Listen as I share three practical steps on how to build a life of meaning--a life that is built on a firm foundation that will stand the test of time and trials.

Find the full show notes at danache.com/podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Get your free “Ultimate Couples’ Checklist” for a more connected marriage today.

7 Traits of a Resilient Relationship

Like the show? Please leave a review! This helps other marriages and relationships grow too!

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 you're best friends with both halves of a splitting couple, as listener Sherry is, things can get messy. Divorce is one of those life events that not only impacts the couple involved but also sends ripples through their connected circle of friends and family. So how do you show love and support without finding yourself stuck in the middle, or worse, causing unintended strains on your relationships and own marriage? In this episode, we dive into these questions and explore ways to maintain healthy boundaries and communications while also supporting your friends through a divorce.

Here are some key takeaways from the episode:

• Love as Individuals
• Respect Proper Boundaries
• Model Good Communication
• Forge a New Way Forward
• Prepare for New Relationships

Remember, it's essential not to let your friends' issues seep into your own marriage. Keep their struggles separate from your relationship, and focus on maintaining harmony at home.

Find the full show notes at danache.com/podcast.

If you have a relationship or marriage question you’d like answered on the show, email me or send a DM on Instagram.

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.

In marriage and relationships, it’s crucial to understand how to build resilient relationships. Resilience isn’t about never facing challenges; it’s about facing them, growing through them, and becoming better because of them. Not everyone who faces hardship in relationships develops resilience; many become bitter and disillusioned. Having been married for 25 years, my husband Shaun and I have faced numerous marriage problems. From infidelity and financial crises to family losses and parenting struggles, we've endured it all. If you’ve followed our journey, you know that these challenges have fortified our resilience in profound ways. Listen as we discuss the seven character traits of building or rebuilding marriages and relationships of resilience.

Find the full show notes and helpful resources in this episode at danache.com/podcast.

Get Your FREE New Resource! The Ultimate Couples Checklist: 5 Simple Steps to Build More Intimacy

Like the show? Please leave a review! This helps other marriages and relationships grow too!

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.