Are you and your spouse completely different? Do you sometimes wonder how you’re going to make it? Well, I understand, because I’m married to my opposite, too! We are different in so many ways: personality, interests and background. When we first got married, I would google “married to your opposite” into the search engine, desperate for someone that would help me in some way.

Our differences showed up every day, making it hard to understand each other, and sometimes even tolerate one another. I thought these differences were impossible to overcome but over time, I began to see them as a good thing. In fact, I began to realize that our differences were actually our strength! How is that possible? Well, marriage to someone so different than ourselves balances us out and we grow in unexpected ways, but it takes time.

In this podcast episode, I discuss more of our story. Then, we look at seven steps to take when incompatibility threatens to ruin your relationship. Here are the seven steps:

7 STEPS TO MAKING BEING MARRIED TO YOUR OPPOSITE WORK

  1. Stop expecting that your spouse should be the same as you.
  2. Let go of the fantasy ideal person you think exists out there somewhere that understands everything about you.
  3. Focus on your similarities and strengthen them.
  4. Accept Your Spouse with all his differences.
  5. Let go of control and micromanaging.
  6. Find creative solutions to the places where you are different.
  7. Believe that your differences will eventually be your greatest strengths

     
    Also mentioned in this article: https://discover.hubpages.com/relationships/My-Husband-And-I-Are-Opposites

    Marriage Media Mention: Kosher Lust

    Scripture mentioned: Ecclesiastes 7:8: Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

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Meet Sharilee Swaity

Sharilee Swaity is a Christian relationship coach with a background in teaching and marketing. This graduate of the Relationship Coaching Institute is passionate about helping women and couples find and keep love after losing a long-term relationship through divorce, widowhood, or relationship breakdown. She works with couples helping them overcome conflict and find love with their spouse. 

Sharilee's passion for helping with relationships was born from her own painful life journey. Growing up witnessing abuse started her on the journey to looking for love in all the wrong places. By age 22, she was already married and divorced. When she finally remarried years later, it looked like she was headed for another divorce, but with the help of counselling and God's wisdom, they turned their second marriage around. 

Sharilee is the author of five books, including Happily Ever After Again: Hope, Healing, and Love for Second Marriages and 16 Gifts from a Stepmom: Encouragement for the Blended Family Journey.   When she's not coaching, writing, or teaching, she loves going for walks with her husband in the forest where they live or spending time in their permaculture-style garden. 

Sharilee loves to experience the city once in a while but nowadays spends most of her time hidden away at their homestead home.  She is a crunchy conservative with a passion for chai tea, sunsets, and trees. She loves learning, research and writing. Clck here to book a coaching call with her today. 
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