In the context of marriage, just being a listening ear can offer affirmation and trust and foster intimacy.

It's not that hard or is it? I'm John Fuller

joined by my focus colleagues Aaron and Greg Smalley and Greg many women want to be

listened to. I'm not sure a lot of women understand their husband wants to be listened to as well.

What are we seeking as men when we are either explicitly or implicitly wanting to be heard.

Yeah, I think every person, John, wants to feel seen and known at that deep level.

And I think you're right right probably in a general sense probably

women have a little bit of an easier time doing that I'm telling you everybody

has that same desire I know that I want to know that Aaron is there for me in the good the

hard the bad the ugly that I've got my person there with me and so as I open up really what I'm wanting first and

foremost is to not feel alone and that's the beauty of marriage I've got my

person there and when she's available when she

says yeah you don't talk I just want to hear and listen I appreciate it when she

doesn't have to jump into you know here's how to solve it I think

because I do that so often when I start to share maybe something's going

on it's easy for her to to want to then offer a solution.

But you know, when she's really willing just to hear and seek to understand, I feel validated,

I think for a lot of guys, we want to know that we have what it takes to be

successful so as I open up there's probably part of me looking for some sort of

validation from her going yeah husband you've got what it takes. I believe in you. You can do this.

Women are so great at validating each other and men. We're not so good at that that we talk about that a lot on the

podcast and so I think there's opportunity there is your husband opens up to

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