Your Partner Needs to Hear This (Even If They Already Know)

What happens when you appreciate your partner—but never actually say it? Drs. John and Julie Gottman explore the role of gratitude and appreciation in long-term relationships and why simply feeling grateful for your partner isn’t the same as expressing it. After years together, it can be easy to assume your partner already knows how you feel. You’ve said “I love you.” You’ve expressed appreciation before. Shouldn’t they just know? According to the Gottmans, appreciation needs to be spoken. In this conversation, John and Julie discuss why expressing gratitude can benefit both the person giving it and the person receiving it—and why being specific about what you appreciate can make those expressions even more meaningful. They also turn the conversation toward their own marriage, sharing what they appreciate about each other after decades together. Julie reflects on John being her teacher throughout their relationship, while John shares his appreciation for Julie—and yes, even her outfits. The conversation also explores the everyday contributions couples can easily begin to take for granted: caring for children, maintaining a home, managing finances, planning a social life, dividing household labor, and handling the countless responsibilities that keep a shared life moving. But relationships need more than management. John and Julie discuss the importance of also noticing the person who helps keep playfulness, adventure, fun, and romance alive—so a partnership doesn’t become simply a managerial relationship. Gratitude doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes it starts with noticing what your partner has been doing all along—and actually saying it out loud. What’s something you appreciate about your partner that you haven’t said lately? #JohnGottman #JulieGottman #Gottman #GottmanMethod #Relationships #RelationshipAdvice #Marriage #MarriageAdvice #Couples #CouplesTherapy #Gratitude #Appreciation #Communication #HealthyRelationships #RelationshipPsychology **Disclaimer:** The content on this channel is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. Watching these videos does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you're in crisis, seek help from a licensed professional or emergency services.