How to Appreciate Your Partner More And Not Take Them for Granted

Are you taking your partner for granted?

Below are a few signs you need to appreciate your partner more.

Life has a way of getting busy, and of making us shift our priorities at times in a way that may not be the best.

When it comes to our everyday life, are we focusing on one of the most important things, on the most important person we should be grateful for?

In couple’s work, I find that this is often not the case.

Signs you are taking your partner for granted

Our partner is someone that we should be grateful for, but do we take them for granted?

One of the most common reasons people enter couples therapy, or at least one of the most common complaints, is that their partner takes them for granted.

So, I thought it would be beneficial to look at clues you might be taking your partner for granted, and how you can correct that.

You never want to be in a position where you have a partner who wonders if you even care.

You want to appreciate your partner more and be certain they know how important they are to you, each and every day.

When couples come to me to work on their connection as a couple, both intimately, and emotionally, I have them do an exercise for a week or two.

I ask that each and every day, whether by saying something face to face, by sending a text, writing a note, or sending an e-mail, they make a point of telling the other person one thing they appreciate about each other.

It does not have to be something huge, in fact it is often better if it is the small things that they think you do not notice.

Believe it or not, couples love this exercise.

They often either want to extend it as an “assignment,” or it is something that they want to keep in regular practice in their lives.

This makes them feel appreciated, more connected, and truly does increase the fondness that had been dampened by feelings taken for granted.

When we are less affectionate, out partner feels unloved and disconnected to us.

It takes so little so show affectionate gestures like a goodbye or hello kiss.

Does your partner feel insecure and need your reassurance, as you have not told them in a long time that you love them, and how important they are to you?

Another issue that was touched on above is when you seem to have shifted your priorities, and you do not make the time for your partner that you once did.

A relationship is a living and breathing thing.

Your partner needs to know that they are always a priority, and that you are there when they need and want you.

This is not to be misconstrued in an unhealthy way, but in a manner in which fosters healthy amounts of togetherness.

Start appreciating your partner more

Speaking of feeling taken for granted, we should be going out of our way to tell our partners “thank you” for everything and anything they do for us.

Feeling like their actions and sacrifices do not count can make anyone feel taken for granted.

Do they always have dinner ready for you?

Has your toilet paper and paper towels been magically restocked without you ever asking?

Are your favorite Keurig cups just always stocked full and there?

Do your clothes get magically washed, dried, and put away?

I will let you in a secret, it is not magic, it’s your partner.

They do these things because they love you, and to make life easy on you, so let them know how much you appreciate them.

When we feel unappreciated, we do not want to go out of our way to do these things.

However, when we are consistently told we are appreciated, we are more than happy to go out of your way for them.

The key here is to let those we are closest to know how grateful we are for them, not just during holidays, but on a consistent basis.

To rebuild the closeness and intimacy that may have been lost by taking each other for granted.

It takes so little effort to say one thing each day that we appreciate about each other, to say thank you, to do one kind deed.

These small efforts can produce so much reward and build such a strong relationship.

A relationship where each person’s love’s freely, expresses gratitude, shows they love, and knows they are loved.

This is the foundation of a strong and genuine relationship.

A couple that knows the lesson of not taking things, or each other, for granted is an enlightened couple.

If you practice this kind of gratitude and appreciate your partner year round, if you make it part of your life, you are far ahead of many couples, and in my humble opinion, have a great shot at a strong relationship.