Fresh starts evoke excitement, hope, and renewed faith. The start of a new season, the beginning of a new calendar year, or the opening day at the stadium allows us to fantasize about countless possibilities.
Marriage is synonymous with new beginnings, and as the bride and groom confidently state, “I do,” they start to scribble across the blank slate dreamingly.
But what happens when wedded bliss is more like wedded misery? What occurs when hopes and expectations culminate in underwhelming disappointment?
Causes of Disappointment in Relationship
Spouses can feel disappointed and unfulfilled in their marriages for various reasons. Intimacy and communication can be lacking, financial issues can interfere, and ineffective coping mechanisms can significantly impact a marriage’s overall caliber and strength.
Cause #1: Lack of Intimacy
Intimacy and communication are the cornerstones of a healthy marriage. As a couple gets to know each other excitedly during courtship and before the wedding, communication is constant, intimacy is at its zenith, and the couple is euphorically in love.
Once the excitement of the wedding is over and when the mechanical nature of married life kicks in, intimacy and communication can diminish and severely plummet.
An individual used to undivided attention, and physical and emotional intimacy can be wholly disappointed when they find that the cell phone consistently beats them out for their spouse’s awareness or as they watch their spouse roll over instead of cuddling to sleep.
Cause #2: Financial Insecurity
Financial security is a predictable line often scribbled onto a newlywed’s blank slate. Couples have high hopes for their jobs, careers, and economic status. They dream of big houses, lavish vacations, and children wanting nothing.
Disappointment occurs when a marriage does not produce the desired level of financial security. Spouses can lose jobs, change careers, fail to finish schooling, or get passed up on that promotion they were counting on.
Money is not everything, but it inevitably impacts social activities one can partake in, dwellings that can be afforded, and vacation spots that can be frequented.
Cause #3: Ineffective Coping Mechanisms
Coping skills are essential to catching and fielding life’s cruelest curveballs. The only constant in life is that changes can occur quickly and when least expected.
Loved ones will pass away, illnesses can be diagnosed, and infertility can crush one’s dreams of starting a family. Individuals are most effective in coping when they are most vital and at their best. But what happens when you are emotionally tired, lost, or lonely?
Ineffective coping mechanisms can lead to great disappointment in marriage. Spouses can possess and employ poor coping mechanisms, such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, and running away from problems instead of staying to face them.
What to do When Your Spouse Disappoints You
Realistically speaking, individuals should spend less time considering if their spouse might disappoint them and instead strategize what to do when their spouse disappoints them.
Humans are imperfect and make mistakes, thus leading to imminent disappointment from time to time.
When your spouse disappoints, there are several things that you can do to cope with your biggest disappointments, including communicating them with your spouse and modifying your expectations.
Tip for Dealing with Disappointment in Relationship #1: Communicate Discontent
Often, married couples erroneously believe their spouses know precisely what they think or can read their minds.
Unfortunately, most of us do not possess psychic abilities and cannot detect disappointments in our spouses if they are not verbalized.
If you are disappointed with your spouse, utilize assertive and respectful communication to make them aware of your frustrations and confidently state your needs and desires.
Tip for Dealing With Disappointment in Relationship#2: Modify expectations
If your spouse cannot reasonably meet your expectations, it is essential to consider whether your expectations are reasonable and attainable. If they are not realistic, make them more achievable for your spouse. Sometimes, we tend to set the bar too high, ultimately setting ourselves or others up for failure.
What to do When Your Spouse is Disappointed With You
As relationships are a two-way street, it is also essential to consider what to do, not if but when the day comes when you disappoint your spouse. Listening and being open to constructive criticism and feedback is critical.
Tip for Dealing With Disappointment in Relationship #1: Active Listening
Active listening occurs when your spouse has your undivided attention and can speak without interruption.
Hearing them out without defensiveness or interruption is essential if your spouse is disappointed with you or your actions. Even if you do not agree with their feelings or reasons for disappointment, you must always respect them.
Tip for Dealing With Disappointment in Relationship #2: Constructive Criticism
It can be difficult for an individual to absorb critique, but it is imperative to be open to constructive criticism.
Although a potentially humbling experience, hearing constructive criticism will allow you to learn from your mistakes and grow individually and within your marriage.
Conclusion:
The likelihood is low that all hopes, wishes, and dreams written across your blank slate at the beginning of marriage will be fulfilled. Disappointments, failures, and unreasonable expectations are a part of life.
Perhaps your combined income will not be six figures. You may not be afforded as many weekly physical intimate opportunities as you initially thought. Perchance, your spouse falls apart instead of comforting you at a loved one’s funeral.
The fact is that you will disappoint others, and they will disappoint you. The key to upward movement and growth in a marriage is dealing with disappointments effectively and healthily. Ensuring an atmosphere of open communication is essential to ensuring an ongoing positive marital experience.
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