When it feels like you are always bearing the brunt of every disagreement with your husband, it can be hard to keep your relationship intact. If it seems like your husband never admits to being in the wrong during a disagreement, you may have noticed a pattern of communication that isn’t working. Before you reach the end of your rope and things become irreparable, read on to learn what to do when your husband never admits he’s wrong.
1. Identify Why Your Partner Struggles to Admit They are Wrong
Time and Place
Whether you are out and about or at home, it can be difficult to get certain people to admit they are wrong. Your partner might not be the first to accept defeat, but identifying why that is, can be key in understanding and moving forward.
Change of Perception is Difficult
People who have difficulty admitting they are wrong, may have trouble accepting the new idea that they might not have all the answers. Questioning their own knowledge and having to change their view is a daunting task – it requires humility and strength to back down even if the truth is staring them in the face.
Fear of Losing Control
Admitting they are wrong can make some people feel like they are losing control over the situation. This feeling of having no say in the outcome could be from a lack of self-confidence, or a fear that the other person will somehow gain authority over them.
Ego Gets in the Way
A person’s individualistic ego often allies itself with the need to win. This often triggers the individual to seek justification of their point of view. Consequently, they may even go to the lengths of forcing their opinion on those around them, even if it is wrong.
There are many reasons why your partner may struggle to admit they are wrong. The key is to take time to understand their perspective and to help them work through the emotional triggers that are impacting their decisions. Here are some tips that may help you create an environment of understanding:
- Listen without judgment to get the full picture
- Express how you are feeling with gentle honesty
- Offer solutions in a calm but firm manner
- Be open to hearing solutions offered by your partner
2. Understand the Impact of Needing to be Right
Though nearly universally sought by almost anyone, needing to be right all the time can come with its own unique set of challenges. Here are just a few considerations to keep in mind:
- It could cause you to ignore valid points. Focusing on proving yourself correct can prevent you from considering new information and potentially valid points that someone else could bring to the conversation. It’s always worth considering the angles of someone else’s argument, even if they don’t necessarily align with yours.
- It can lead to unnecessary conflict. If others are coming to the table with valid points, continuing to push for a debate can cause conflict. Conflict can be great if it leads to constructive dialogue, but it can be wholly unnecessary if both parties want the same outcome.
In moments of needing to be right, it is important to step back and assess the situation. Ask yourself how important is it for you to be proven correct in this moment? The timing is key, as this is a deciding factor for taking the conversation further with a “right versus wrong” approach.
Another consideration is understanding that the need for being right usually stems from a feeling of control. Being right means having control over the outcome, so finding alternative ways to gain this sense of control can be beneficial.
3. Take Time to Process Emotions Without Fighting
No two people process their emotions the same, and that is okay. That said, it can be hard to deal with your own – and even harder to help the person next to you with theirs. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up, however! There are a few surefire ways to help you both take the time and process your emotions without erupting into a fight:
Identify feelings
The first step is to be honest with yourself about how you feel. Oftentimes, it’s the only way to start recognizing that something is wrong. It could be as simple as feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or as complex as a new fear or change in your thoughts. Once you can put a name to the emotion, it’s a lot easier to start managing a situation.
Communication is key
No conversation is ever one-sided; if you’re both feeling overwhelmed by a situation, it’s important to be able to communicate your thoughts and feelings without attacking one another. Although this takes some practice, speaking calmly and using “I” language when expressing feelings can go a long way.
Set boundaries and practice self-care
- Creating healthy boundaries in a relationship can help protect you both from lashing out at one another.
- Practice with deeper breathing exercises or meditation.
- Spend some time away from the situation in order to clear your head and re-center.
- Take part in activities that you enjoy or make you feel at ease.
Although it’s never easy to deal with intense emotions without a fight, following these steps can help you and the people close to you process feelings without things escalating.
4. Make Sure You Listen and Hear Each Other Out
Timeouts and silence can be effective tools to practice healthy communication — however, you don’t want a conversation to dwindle down. Instead, practice listening and hearing each other out! Being a good listener is one of the first steps in any conversation.
For a more productive exchange, take the time to truly listen and understand the other person. Active listening means actively bringing some effort into your conversations. You don’t have to be an expert conversationalist, but it’s important to be:
- Patient: During a conversation, it’s important to be patient when the other person is speaking — focus on what they’re saying rather than pre-thinking about what your response is going to be.
- Genuine: Show your genuine interest in what they’re saying. Make eye contact, communicate through body language, and follow up with questions about a topic you’re both passionate about.
- Non-Judgemental: Respect the person’s opinion and don’t jump to judgement or make assumptions. This is especially important to maintain a comfortable and safe dialogue.
Good communication is key in any healthy relationship, whether it’s between romantic partners, friends, or family. Before you open your mouth to speak, take some time to really listen! When you make sure to hear each other out, a conversation can truly get interesting.
5. Talk Openly About Differences and Working Towards Compromise
Most relationships feed off open communication, and in a public space, it is even more important for members to be vocal about their opinions and ideas. The key is to remember that we all come from different backgrounds and perspectives, and it is important to respect that.
To negotiate a conclusion that is the best outcome for everyone in the space, it is crucial to be open about the differences that exist between members. Talking about the pros and cons of each stance should be done in an open and non-confrontational manner, and each side should be ready to listen to what the other has to say.
Where possible, try to come to an agreement that works for everyone and be willing to compromise on certain points. A compromise means that both sides have to give and take before agreeing on the final outcome.
Important aspects when talking openly about differences and working towards a compromise include:
- Understand and respect everyone’s opinions and points of view;
- Be willing to listen to opposing ideas;
- Be flexible when proposing solutions;
- Try to come to an agreement that works for everyone.
It might not always be easy, but by using these techniques, members of the public space can have productive conversations and ensure that everyone is included.
6. Set Aside Time to Be Together and Re-open Lines of Communication
You and your partner will both benefit if you can set aside a few hours a week for meaningful conversation. Simply taking an hour or two to check in with each other can do wonders for your relationship. It is easy to lose touch with each other as our busy lives whizz by.
Turn off the screens and put away your phones. Quality time together should be distraction-free. Let your conversations flow naturally. Listen carefully to each other’s words and offer your input too. Focus on creating an open dialogue and talk about both positive and negative experiences.
Find out what is going on in your partner’s life and how they’ve been feeling. Show your partner that you care and create a safe space for them to open up. Encourage each other to say what is really on your minds and express your feelings honestly. You can talk about issues in the relationship, and brainstorm solutions. Regularly communicating can help keep trust alive and strengthen your connection.
- Agree on how often you will take time for each other.
- Discuss what topics you want to cover.
- Listen and be willing to accept differences.
- Come to an agreement on your issues.
Take your time to get to know each other better. Re-open the lines of communication and explore a deeper level of intimacy.
7. Download Meaningful Relationship Resources to Incorporate Into Your Journey Together
Time spent with a significant other is invaluable – as is the knowledge that can help you nurture the connection. To support relationships, there are a plethora of resources found online that can help guide partners. Whether it’s seeking advice or challenge traditional beliefs, these materials offer golden nuggets of information.
Below are 7 starting points to download thoughtful relationship resources to help drive your journey forward.
- The Couple App: This user-friendly app is created to help couples stay connected and learn to communicate better. With focus areas such as communication tips, personal assessment and relationship insights, it is a comprehensive place to help two become one.
- LoveWorks: This interactive program is designed to help couples enhance their relationships through interactive activities that can be done with or without a therapist. The program is structured around 6 core elements and offers skill-building exercises to strengthen relationships.
- LAW – Love Affects Wisdom: Using the core values of building meaningful connections, LAW helps couples identify, understand, and manage their emotions throughout a relationship. This program includes intuitive modules, practical exercises, and accessible videos.
- Couples’ Guide to Communication: Written by experts in the field, this comprehensive guide includes practical advice for couples, as well as activities to help cultivate an understanding and emotionally-fulfilling bond.
- Stepping Stones: Through this program, couples can identify values, learn communication techniques, and discover and acknowledge thought patterns around conflict resolution. This program also helps couples recognize each other’s weaknesses and take steps to make their relationship work.
- Building a Better Partnership: This guide is specifically structured for long-term couples and focuses on rebuilding trust, understanding the issues, and building an improved relationship. This resource offers activities, perspectives, and insights to assist couples in rekindling their emotional connection.
- The 7 Principles Program: Developed by Dr. John Gottman, The 7 Principles Program focuses on helping partners understand each other, manage conflict, and use compromise. Utilizing techniques to restore harmony and balance, the program encourages open-minded discussions and recognizing how positive influences can bring couples closer together.
Resentment and misunderstanding threaten any relationship, but by improving emotional communication, and understanding your partner’s needs and values, any bond can be strengthened. Whether you are seeking advice or yearning for knowledge, these resources are here to provide you with helpful tips and motivation for creating lasting relationships with your significant other.
Feeling confident that you have an arsenal of tools to use when your husband won’t admit he’s wrong? We hope so! The trick to maintaining a healthy relationship is communication, communication, communication! If you can both keep talking to each other in a respectful manner, you will be able to settle any disagreement without any hard feelings. After all, admitting that one is wrong is not only a sign of maturity but also a way to progress as a couple.