Bringing Harmony To Discord
By Steve Goodier
I once talked with a couple about their marriage. They completed
personality "testing" and were discussing some differences that
had frustrated them both over the years. I summarized some of
those differences for them.
"You are sensitive," I said to the husband. He nodded
affirmatively. "You try to keep harmony in the relationship. It
is important to you that you don't have too much conflict, so you
tend to give in often in order to keep the peace." He agreed.
"You like affection and will often reach out and hold your wife's
hand for no reason at all." He smiled and nodded.
"And you remember birthdays and special days - these are
important to you." He continued to smile and nod.
"And you particularly appreciate it when she says, 'I love you.'
In fact, you need her to say that at least once a day."
"EXACTLY!" he exclaimed with a broad smile, looking at his wife.
Then I spoke to her. "And you appreciate his sensitivity, but you
tend to be more rational and logical." She smiled and nodded.
"You can be more objective than he can about personal criticism
and may sometimes be too blunt with him." They both agreed.
"You like affection, but you don't require it like he does. If
you hold hands or not, that is unimportant to you." She continued
to nod.
"And you also appreciate the fact that he remembers those special
days, but if he were to forget one, that would not upset you. In
fact, you have to remember to say, 'I love you' to him, not
because you don't love him, but because saying it is just
something you don't think about often." She agreed, looking at
her husband.
"Saying words like 'I love you' does not mean the same thing to
you as it does to him. You know you love him. In fact, you looked
into his eyes when you got married and said, 'I love you' and
figured that, if you ever change your mind, you'll let him know."
"EXACTLY!" she exclaimed, with a smile.
They told me that the discussion helped them to simply understand
one another and to accept themselves. Rather than trying to
change the other to get their own needs met, they could more
easily appreciate their differences and also appreciate
themselves as they are.
They found harmony where there used to be discord.
We don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note. Only
notes that are different can harmonize. The same is true with
people.
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