If you have ever experienced competitiveness in your marriage, this episode of the "Couple's Catalyst" podcast is for you. Ed and Erica tackle the complex issue of competitiveness within a marriage. Whether it's competing over chores, parenting decisions, or personal achievements, the constant need to one-up each other can create tension and misunderstanding within a marriage.

Erica and Ed discuss a letter from an anonymous listener who describes the challenges of dealing with a partner who turns every aspect of their lives into a competition. The writer seeks advice on how to address this competitive dynamic in a way that fosters understanding and growth. Throughout the episode, they delve into strategies for shifting the competitive mindset to collaboration and support.

Here are the biggest takeaways from the episode:

Building awareness and understanding is one of the first steps in overcoming competitiveness in a marriage. Both partners must recognize and acknowledge their competitive behaviors and understand how they impact their relationship. Open and nonjudgmental communication is critical in this process. Partners should express their feelings and concerns while remaining mindful of how their words and actions impact their significant other.

Ed recommends tracking or journaling to monitor competitive behavior and its effects. By keeping track of instances where competitiveness arises, couples can gain valuable insights into their behavior and its impact on their relationship. Furthermore, regular check-ins and discussions about these observations can build awareness and foster understanding.

Shifting Focus from Competition to Collaboration: Setting goals as a couple and working towards them together can help redirect the energy that was previously spent on competing against each other. By framing activities as joint efforts, couples can build a sense of unity and shared accomplishment. Partners should discuss how they feel most validated and loved, prompting a deeper understanding of each other's needs and desires. 

Implementing Strategies for Improvement: Ed and Erica suggest implementing strategies for improvement based on mutual understanding and communication. They recommend turning these strategies into a fun game by writing questions that partners want to ask each other and pulling them out of a hat. This lighthearted approach can facilitate open and honest conversations about validation, support, and collaboration in the relationship.

Partners should also be mindful of how they communicate their victories and achievements. It's essential to avoid negating the other person's accomplishments by immediately interjecting their own. Instead, they should focus on acknowledging and supporting each other's wins, fostering an environment of mutual validation and celebration.

Have a relationship/marriage question or concern you'd like for us to address on a future episode of the "Couple's Catalyst" podcast? Submit your questions and concerns anonymously here.

In this episode, titled "How to Overcome Tension in Your Marriage" Ed and Erica address a letter from an anonymous couple struggling with triggers from past relationships. They discuss the importance of identifying triggers, setting communication ground rules, and building supportive habits. Tune in as they share practical advice and personal anecdotes, offering a candid and unapologetic journey through the ups and downs of marriage.

Here are a few "takeaways" from this episode:

• Understanding Triggers and Their Impact - Past toxic behaviors and communication patterns can leave individuals with insecurities and fears that may trickle into their current relationships. Couples must identify these triggers and understand the emotions underlying them. By examining the root causes and the resulting feelings, individuals can gain clarity on how these triggers are influencing their behavior within the relationship.
• Journaling for Clarity and Insight - Couples can document the specific triggers, the circumstances that cause them, and the emotions they evoke. By examining these elements, individuals can cultivate a deeper understanding of their emotional responses and contributions to the relationship dynamics. 
• Seeking Professional Support - Professional support can provide the tools and insights necessary for individuals to address and heal from their past experiences, fostering healthier interactions within their current relationships.
• Effective Communication Strategies - When it comes to communication within a relationship, open-ended questions can foster constructive dialogue, allowing partners to express their thoughts and perspectives without creating defensiveness or tension. This approach aligns with the principles outlined in the book "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss, emphasizing the power of asking questions to gain a deeper understanding of one another's viewpoints.
• Building Supportive Relationship Habits - A key recommendation shared in the podcast is the importance of building new, supportive habits within the relationship. This includes setting and aligning on common goals, fostering healthy associations, and creating a safe space for open communication. By defining ground rules for communication and engaging in activities that support the relationship's growth, couples can cultivate an environment that nurtures mutual understanding and connection.
• Defining Communication Ground Rules - Establishing communication ground rules is vital for creating a safe and supportive environment for open dialogue. Couples are encouraged to agree on specific principles that promote respectful, effective communication. This might include rules around the use of electronic devices during conversations, employing a 'safe word' to pause discussions during escalating moments, and designating private spaces for discussing relationship struggles. 

Have a relationship/marriage question or concern you'd like for us to address on a future episode of the "Couple's Catalyst" podcast? Submit your questions and concerns anonymously here.

Wondering how to maintain a quality connection with your partner, even though your life demands try to pull you apart? 

Navigating a busy life isn't a cakewalk, especially when it involves balancing the complexities of work, children, and maintaining a nurturing romantic relationship. And, we know all too well the trials couples face in carving out that essential 'us time'.

Can you relate? Then, listen to Episode 5 - Strategies for Quality Connection with Your Partner".

In this episode of the "Couple's Catalyst" podcast, Team E Squared answers a letter from our audience who is currently struggling to connect with their partner, without having a conversation about work or their kids.

Here's why you want to listen:

• The biggest culprit in zapping quality time away from your partner (this one may shock you)
• How color coding your calendar can be a game changer for your sanity and intimacy
• The correlation between relationship satisfaction and business success
• The value of couples participating in activities together, even if it's going to the grocery store together :)
• Where to find ideas and inspiration to strengthen your quality connection with your partner

As you listen in, keep in mind these additional points:

• Scheduling quality connection time with your partner is not about reaching for unattainable perfection. It's about connecting over shared experiences, even amid the mundane, scheduling specific nights for bonding activities, and ensuring these rituals are shielded against the relentlessness of daily responsibilities.
• Relying on spontaneous intimacy and reconnection time is a recipe for disaster. Consider color-coordinating a joint calendar for romance and reconnection activities, urging the necessity of planning date nights, even while on family vacations, to ensure that couple time isn't a casualty of family time.
• You and your partner are the product of the five people you surround yourselves with the most. Spend time with other couples you admire and share "quality connection" ideas.  
• There is so much power in sharing responsibilities, when it comes to maintaining your household and caring for your kids. Having a brief weekly check-in meeting with each other will help you both get on the same page with duties without blame and miscommunication.
• Personal hobbies and decompression, particularly for those working from home, are necessary to maintain a healthy relationship. And, finding joint venture hobbies shifts the focus from the omnipresent discussions of business and childcare to the shared passion, fueling the couple's united front. At the same time, you will be modeling a healthy relationship for your children – one in which time is spent together in affection and joint decision-making.

Have a relationship/marriage question or concern you'd like for us to address on a future episode of the "Couple's Catalyst" podcast? Submit your questions and concerns anonymously here.