86: Stuck Spouse? Here's How to Help!

Description

Welcome Back to the Love How Deep Podcast. This is Episode 86.

Helping Your Stuck Spouse

Introduction

Heather's opening question: Have you or your spouse ever felt overwhelmingly stuck?
Relatability of feeling unable to move forward due to circumstances.
Addressing the common frustration of wanting a stuck spouse to "just get over it."
Highlighting the need for compassion and grace over irritation.

Heather's Personal Experience

Sharing a recent personal experience of feeling stuck and distraught.
Brian's supportive question: "What do you need from me?"
Heather's inability to articulate her needs ("I just wanna curl up into a little ball and cry").
The desire to withdraw and escape the situation.

Brian's Action and the Outcome

Brian's proactive response: "You're getting outta this house. Let's go."
Heather's initial resistance and lack of a destination.
The simple act of leaving the house and going to a home store at the mall.
Describing their shared experience in the store as akin to visiting a museum.
The power of a change of scenery and shared focus on something neutral.
Examples of their interactions and conversations that lifted Heather's mood (observing items, reminiscing).
The positive impact of this outing on the rest of Heather's day.

The Encouragement and Challenge

Heather's encouragement to listeners: If your spouse is stuck, get them out of the house.
Anticipating potential resistance and suggesting a loving approach ("I'm doing this for you because I love you").
Suggesting various simple activities: walks, visiting animal shelters, etc.
The key is a change of environment to potentially brighten their mood.

Advice for the Stuck Spouse

Direct address to listeners who might be feeling stuck.
Encouragement to allow their spouse to help.
Trusting their partner's initiative to provide a change of pace.
Acknowledging the difficulty of moving forward when feeling stuck and the value of external help.

Conclusion and Call to Action