7 Ways to Encourage Your Partner ...

Listening is always important – and so is staying patient. No matter what your partner wants to do, you should listen to the whole story. That is, after all, the only way you can actually find out the full story. It is important to listen to everything your partner wants to share with you before you do anything else.

This is pretty much a given. However, when you don't agree with someone's choices, it is easy to get frustrated. Sometimes that frustration can come off badly. It can even seem like you are saying that you will not feel the same about your partner if he or she does something with which you don't agree. That's most likely not the case, of course, so just remember: love your partner unconditionally and make sure it shows.

Sometimes, you just need to vent – and so does your partner. He or she may not even be making a decision, but rather could be just trying to work through feelings. Invite that, be a sounding board, even if it just means listening and not offering an opinion right away. I don't know about you, but sometimes I just want the Better Half to listen to me; I don't wan a solution, I just want to get my feelings off my chest.

This is especially important if you are trying to encourage your partner through a bad time. It is human nature to want to give over the bad things as soon as possible, but you can't always do that. Your partner may continue to think about a problem, and you can't rush him or her through that. Just give it time and, again, be patient.

The worst thing you can do is try to force advice, but that doesn't mean you can't communicate. Once you're sure your partner is ready for this, then the two of you need to open up the lines of communication. You are completely allowed to give your own opinion, but try to be tactful and caring, and definitely don't try to push it onto your partner.

If your partner is looking for a new career choice, wants to go back to school, or even wants something as relatively simple as a new car, then the two of you can sit down and make goals together. Do you have to save money for the endeavor? Do certain things need to be accomplished first? What can you do to help?

Sometimes, however, you might not be able to help. In that case, your best bet is to get some outside help. You need to be willing to do that, because it might mean all the difference.

If you love someone, you most likely want to encourage them as much as possible. How do you encourage your partner or your friends? How do you like to be encouraged?

Top Photo Credit: gbrummett