💞 Stronger Together – Relationship Skills for Lasting Partnerships *coming soon
Course overview
Lesson Overview

9.5 – Listening to Hurt Without Defensiveness: Listening to hurt requires emotional maturity—the ability to hear another’s pain without filtering it through your own guilt or fear. Defensiveness blocks understanding, turning healing conversations into self-protection battles. True listening asks for stillness and empathy, not counterarguments or justifications. It involves holding space for emotions that may feel uncomfortable, trusting that discomfort leads to growth. When you resist the urge to defend, you communicate that the other person’s feelings are valid. Listening becomes a gift that restores dignity to both sides. It’s not agreement—it’s acknowledgment. When done with calm attention, even painful stories can become bridges to deeper connection. Listening to hurt is one of the purest expressions of love because it chooses understanding over ego every time.

About this course

Guidance and strategies to help couples build trust, communicate effectively, and strengthen their partnership for long-term success.

This course includes:
  • Communication and conflict resolution practice activities
  • Trust-building and intimacy exercises
  • Partnership goal-setting templates and tools

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