How to Stop Avoiding Conflict in Relationships

Is conflict avoidance causing trouble in your relationship? As an experienced marriage counselor, I can tell you that not having any conflict in a relationship isn’t as positive as many people think. When couples tell me they “never fight,” usually that means they aren’t addressing any of their friction points, or sharing their feelings openly and with vulnerability. When I scratch the surface of these relationships, I often find that each partner has an internal stockpile of resentments that are chipping away at their loving feelings for each other. Over time, these relationships can start to feel disconnected, hollow, and lonely. Perhaps worst of all, couples who avoid conflict miss out on all of the opportunities for growth, connection, and relationship renewal that healthy conflict affords. Really! If you or your partner have a tendency to avoid conflict in your relationship, this episode will help you explore why that is, why it’s a problem, and what you can do about it. Exercising your healthy-conflict muscles will not only help you create a stronger, deeper connection with your partner, it will help you feel more confident and competent when you’re faced with conflict anywhere in life. I hope you’ll join me! With love, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby PS — You can find more advice on building the skills to keep your relationship healthy and strong in our “Communication that Connects” collection of articles and podcasts.