But that doesn’t mean loneliness in a marriage is necessarily normal.
“you’re free to be lonely and not be alone.
“You have to consider emotional proximityhow in tune are you with your partner?
“And when you don’t?
you’ve got the option to feel lonely.”
In other words, your marriage cannot be the only thing that keeps you from feeling lonely.
“You shouldn’t be seeking full validation from your partner when you’re married,” Jackson says.
You have to be happy with you.
You have to give your own self joy.
You have to have your own career goals.
You have to have your own passions.”
Sosay it out loud to your partnerso they know something is off in your marriage, Jackson says.
Each person has one primary love language that’s their preferred way of receiving love.
Jackson recommendsThe Seven Principles for Making Marriage Workby John Gottman, Ph.D., and Nan Silver.
Additionally, notice if you feelyourselflacking the motivation to work on the relationship, Andre advises.
If this is you, it’s time to move your relationship fromcodependent to interdependentby prioritizing your own wholeness.
What fills you up?
What hobbies and passions can you lean into to light up your world, outside of your marriage?
How can you start to nurture the other relationships in your life, including friends and family?
), in addition to working toward an internally sourced feeling of fulfillment.
