Subtitles section Play video
-
Marriage expert John Gottman can sit with newly engaged couples for 15 minutes or less and predict with 94% success the likelihood of whether that couple will be happily married or miserable and divorced.
-
What is his secret?
-
How does he do it?
-
He says the key to relationship success does not lie in candlelight dinners.
-
It is not found in trips to Paris or horse and carriage rides under moonlit skies.
-
It is not found in getting your partner a different gift every other week.
-
And it is not found during long walks on the beach.
-
Gottman says the most important factor for a happy marriage is attention.
-
Small moments of positive attention.
-
When I heard this I thought about my mom.
-
See, when I was six she told me that it was the little things that make the big difference.
-
And as I look back on my parent's failed marriage, I see that it was those little things that eventually became non-existent.
-
And if you're watching this now then I know it sounds reminiscent cause it is all too common today on this planet that we take each other for granted.
-
We don't know what we have until it's gone.
-
We lose touch with those who mean so much by neglecting the things that are so small.
-
Now look, if you want a book a limousine with a mariachi band inside to take your sweetheart on a helicopter ride, that's fine.
-
But I have to mention, none of that compares to giving your consistent, undivided time and attention.
-
Because lasting love, as Gottman said, is all about the small stuff.
-
It's about looking to your partner and telling them, "I love the way your hair looks in the morning."
-
It's about sending a random "I miss you" text to tell them that they're in your heart and on your mind.
-
It's about when they call you during the day, does your voice light up like a dream come true?
-
Or does your tone sound like you've got better, more important things to do?
-
It's about choosing praise over blame.
-
It's about holding the hand when you know they are afraid and you might be too, but you say, "I'm here. It's gonna be okay."
-
It's about pressing pause on your favorite show so they can tell you about their day.
-
It's about making up funny nicknames.
-
It's about complimenting a new hairstyle.
-
It's about notice in the funny way their lips curl up when they smile.
-
It's about the simple things like remembering that no matter how hard it gets or how much you argue, you're on the same team.
-
It's about the simple bliss of watching a movie cuddled up in the bed.
-
It's the gentle kiss right on the forehead.
-
It's about the eye contact at the breakfast table where due to the light hitting them at a certain angle, you notice a different shade or texture of their eyes.
-
It's about those tight hugs from behind.
-
It's about choosing to be kind instead of right all the time.
-
It's the small gestures to show them they are truly treasured.
-
It's not about the fancy dress up dance clubs because slow dancing in the kitchen wearing sweatpants is way better.
-
It's about being weirdos together.
-
It ain't always about making the heart melt.
-
It's about getting them a glass of water when you get one for yourself.
-
And yes, I realize that with so many extravagant celebrity weddings for some people this may sound like trash.
-
But if your partner doesn't feel seen, appreciated, or listened to without fear of judgement, then what kind of partnership do you have?
-
It is said that three billion people in the world will go to bed hungry tonight.
-
And there are 4 billion who will go to bed hungry for a single word of love and appreciation.
-
If you have a malnourished partner, loved one, or friend, then please listen.
-
I want you to feed them small acts of love and attention, and now is a good time to start because it truly is the small moments of our lives that take up the biggest part of our hearts.