25-10 - Flipbook - Page 72
Hephzibah
Ministries
3 TIMES TO ASK FOR A DO-OVER
Have you ever had an interaction with your spouse that unexpectedly
turned into a fight, all because of a communication mistake? You might
know it9s happening even as the words are leaving your mouth. You can
feel your spouse9s vibe change in response. You wish you could take it
back and start over, but it9s too late. What9s done is done. Or is it?
While life is full of situations in which you only get one shot, marriage offers
up many opportunities when a second chance can be just what you need
to turn an otherwise negative outcome into a positive. When you know
you9ve just made a poor choice in communicating with your spouse,
requesting a do-over in the moment is an impactful way to quickly coursecorrect the interaction. Here are 3 times to ask for one:
1. When your tone is off
It9s not always what you say, it9s how you say it. Whether your tone was
snippy, impatient, or sarcastic, it can take your conversation from cordial to
conflict before you know it. Your tone is like an outlet for the emotions you
feel bubbling just below the surface, and that makes it hard to control
(even when you think you are). It takes awareness, intention, and practice
3 and no one is perfect. That means responding with an overly negative
tone is going to happen from time to time, but that doesn9t mean you9re
doomed to a fight each time. When you recognize that you9ve snapped
at your spouse or replied in a tone you didn9t intend, correct the course of
the interaction by asking for a do-over. You might say something like,
