The Art Of Safe Connection: 5 Habits That Help Your Partner Open Up Emotionally
Emotional safety is what turns love into trust.
Lauren Rader | Unsplash Vulnerability and safe connection come more easily for some than it does for others. It can be frustrating when you and your partner struggle to openly discuss feelings while trying to establish healthy relationship habits. Painful experiences, embarrassment, fear of judgment, or an uneasy feeling of trust can all hinder someone’s ability to open up.
If your partner is acting closed off, it likely has nothing to do with you. It’s probably a result of their past or a preconceived notion. If you find yourself with someone who really doesn’t like expressing their feelings, there are ways to encourage them to do it without being pushy.
Here are 5 habits that help your partner open up emotionally:
1. Clearly communicate your needs with them
If you need your partner to communicate more effectively with you, you must do the same with them. Tell them directly, but in a nice tone, that you want to get to know them better and you want them to get to know you, too.
Confidence coach Lisa Petsinis advised, "Occasionally, you get disappointed with the outcome of your vulnerable act, along with feeling discouraged. That's OK. There is usually some kind of personal growth that comes out of even the most harrowing experiences. Every so often, you get what you thought you wanted when you put yourself out there, and sometimes, you get something even better."
Be sure to say you don’t expect them to always want to share every little thing, but extend the invitation to talk about their feelings when something is going on. They may not realize they aren’t sharing enough. By doing this, you are creating a safe place of trust, sympathy, and good intentions.
2. Sympathize with them
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Speaking of sympathy, your partner’s past is probably why they are hesitant to open up to you. Always, always, always, reiterate that you understand why it’s scary for them. Don’t get angry if they struggle at first.
You can also say things like, “I am so proud of you for sharing that; that takes a lot of courage,” when they do share those difficult things. It will help them feel more comfortable with you, frequently showing understanding.
3. Don’t force it
Don't force these conversations. When you force it, they will only get frustrated and feel targeted. It’s not productive. So, avoid this by offering your acceptance and support, and let them come to you when they feel ready.
"The ultimate risk is allowing yourself to fall in love," cautioned therapist Terry Gaspard, "which requires letting go of control and of the fear of being hurt or abandoned. While all relationships present risks, they are risks worth taking. Even if you have been abandoned or cheated on, you can surrender your shield and allow your partner in. Healthy partnerships are within reach if you let go of fear and believe you're worthy of love and all of the gifts it has to offer."
4. Don’t debate
Focus on learning about their feelings rather than debating about them. You want to make them feel heard and not alone. Focus on what they’re saying and don’t just think about how you’ll respond. Let them speak until they are blue in the face and genuinely listen and try to understand them.
You don’t even have to speak or give advice. Just shut up, give them the microphone, and let them talk until they feel better.
Health psychologist Stephen Almada explained, "The mutual trust needed to take the first step on that emotional tightrope goes a long way. The work of emotional intimacy leads to a mutual heightening of an interpersonal sensitivity to the status of your oneness. Similarly, there is the mutual development of an acute receptivity to nonverbal (gestures, looks, sounds) communications relevant to maintaining emotional balance. As interpersonal sensitivity and receptivity become more refined, the perils of walking across that emotional tightrope diminish, and your success in achieving the oneness of emotional intimacy is at hand."
5. Lead by example
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It might be difficult for you to do when you also hate sharing your emotions, but you can’t expect someone to open up to you if you won’t do the same. Create that safe place and break the boundary by sharing something deep about yourself to show them it’s OK. This will normalize those deeper conversations and hopefully eliminate the stigmas surrounding them.
You can’t force someone to open up, but you can help them get there. So, make your partner feel valid for how they feel and reinforce that their feelings will not change your love for them. Reassurance can never hurt in these situations, especially if your significant other suffers from abandonment or trust issues.
It’s all a natural part of being human; some things are super sensitive and hit nerves very quickly. As long as you can be respectful of their boundaries and patient until they are ready, you will get somewhere deeper with them one day.
Brittany Christopoulos is a writer who focuses on women's issues, mental health, love, and relationships.
