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How to be a More Supportive Partner

Is your husband going through a life transition or career change? Learn how to be a more supportive partner in the midst of difficult times, or even through great times! There’s never a bad time to be supportive to your partner or spouse.

How to be a supportive partner - give touch like holding hands.

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I’m not going to lie… there’s nothing that grinds my gears quite like a “how to be a good wife” post.

Do you ever see men writing “how to be a good husband” post? Maybe. Definitely a lot less frequently.

Call me a feminist. Whatever.

But, there are ways to be a supportive partner when your guy or gal is going through a life transition such as job or career change or lifestyle change.

Being a supportive partner has incredible benefits, not just for your spouse, but for your marriage, for you, and for your children!

I’ve found my soulmate and settled down over the last few years. We had two children and bought a house. Things are stable. But recently, I made a huge change from being an elementary school music teacher to doing the stay-at-home mom thing. And my husband is currently going through a potential career shift… we’ll see how it pans out! I’m not going to jinx it by sharing the details just yet, but we’ll know soon!

RELATED: What Does Love Feel Like? 25 Signs You’re In Love!

When Going Through a Major Change

So many people get stuck in their routine. And let’s be honest…

CHANGE IS SCARY.

Change means facing the unknown. It’s safer to stay in our little bubble and never venture into the unknown. But never taking a risk means a life full of potential regret.

For me, I’d rather give the risk a shot. After all, we only get one life.

You might be full of zeal for this change! Or you might feel a sinking in the pit of your stomach when you think about it.

Regardless, when facing this risk, this change, this uncertainty, there are some things that have helped me to support my husband, face the unknown, and keep my relationship healthy and balanced.

Follow these 4 principles for how to be a supportive partner during a career or life transition.

1) Avoid knee-jerk reactions, guilt-tripping, emotional manipulation, and keeping score

Whenever you’re going through a change, there’s bound to be some friction. Change is never easy.

Sometimes a knee-jerk reaction can be very off putting. Just think of how you feel whenever your spouse mutters something under their breath.

Make sure you have an outlet for your frustrations, like journaling, meditating, or venting to your best friend. That way you can work out your feelings ahead of time, and you can respond appropriately when you interact with your spouse.

But know when your frustration turns from “discomfort of change” to “this is having major unwanted impacts on my life”. Avoiding emotional manipulation is also a must!

It’s really easy to fall into the pit of using tactics to try to get them to change their mind. (This is called conditional love.)

Things NOT to say:

“Well, you’d be pulling the kids out of school halfway through the school year, maybe now isn’t the best time for a career change.”

“This is tearing our family apart, but I guess that’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“I put aside my career when the kids came along, I guess you’re not willing to do the same.”

These kinds of interactions will degrade your trust in each other, and will not only NOT actually work to prevent your partner from making a change, but could put a huge strain of your marriage, relationship, and family life.

You need to get yourself into a good frame of mind. Any life change takes flexibility, patience, and understanding. Practice meditation, be aware of your thoughts and words, and stay in a positive frame of mind.

Are you being positive without toxic positivity?! Okay, then let’s go on to the next step!

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How to Find Your Soulmate in Life!

2) Ask Questions

For me, this is the single-most influential aspect to facing change with your partner.

Start by imagining this change as if it’s already happened. Start to form a visual picture in your brain of how your life would look if this change takes place.

What’s exciting about your new life?
What might be a challenge?

Imagine your life as if it is already happening! Try to dig up the details about how you got there, where you live, what life is like for you with this change. Now it’s time to see if your vision matches up with your partners.

Change and uncertainty are amplified when you feel left out or excluded. There might be pieces missing or things that you’re left wondering about.

You might even start wondering, “Is my husband thinking of changing his family too? Does he want out of this life?” Don’t go down the rabbit hole of doubt.

Start by asking your partner some simple, objective questions.

“You’re thinking about getting out of your career. What do you think you might do instead?”

“I know your job doesn’t bring you joy anymore. What do you think you would love to do?”

Or maybe they have already settled on a new area.

“Do you plan to go back to college?”

“How long does it take to break into this industry?”

Hopefully asking questions like this will spark some really fantastic conversation and you can dream about the possibility of where life would take you.

READ MORE: How “Meet Them Where They Are” Can Help Any Relationship

3) Be honest and objective about how their change will affect you

You might be loving your life right now and not be looking for a change. You might be apprehensive about finances and moving… the stress that comes with changing location, finding a place to live, the stress on your children of possibly settling into a new school district.

It can all be overwhelming, especially if you have kids to think of. But make sure that you approach any conversations (especially when you are feeling negative feelings) from the perspective of:

We’re a team, and we need to make this work, TOGETHER.

Voice any concerns you have with the tone of being problem solvers as a single unit, not me versus him.

“I’m worried about how this will affect the kids.”

“I’ve found this amazing job I love… what happens if you’re offered a job out of state?”

“It sounds like you could be on the night shift if you take this job, and I’m a little worried about being at home with the kids by myself and doing bedtime routines alone. How can we solve this?”

It might take a lot of conversations when the kids have gone to bed to sort through some of the logistics of a major life change.

4) Give encouraging words & share gifts

Regardless of how you feel about this change, your partner is an independent person who can make his or her own choices for their life! Being supportive means understanding this and offering support.

Woman smiling because she knows how to be a supportive partner to her spouse.

This change makes them feel good, so give encouraging words!

When they go to their interview, say something nice to them! Wish them luck and genuinely mean it!

If you feel like it, get them a small gift!

Get them a gift card to their favorite lunch spot in town for when their interview is over.

Get them a new tie clip for the big day.

Is your or your spouse’s love language touch? Make sure you share kisses and touch the day of any changes!

If they love food, make some for them! Share smiles! This will go a long way in showing your support.

Conclusion

I read a story about a man in his 80s sharing marriage advice. He said something like, “My wife has been many people over the course of our marriage. People change and grow. The key is to love them for who they are at that time.”

Having flexibility and being objective are absolutely key to finding happiness and balance.

Following these principles can truly help how to be more supportive spouse and your relationship healthy and loving!

Has your partner ever gone through a life or career change? How did you show your support?

RELATED: Why I Only Wear a Wedding Band (NO Engagement Ring!)

How to be a supportive partner.

How to be a More Supportive Partner during a Life Transition

Kimberlie

Thursday 23rd of January 2020

I can honestly say that loving my husband where he is is a work in progress. I loved who he was when we first met and has we've matured and changed, I've struggled at times to adjust to the "new person." Typically the changes surrounded a career or major life shift. Your post helped me to own up to that and hopefully being more aware will help me to be more supportive.

Dana

Thursday 23rd of January 2020

Excellent tips. Patience and asking a question is key. If you show interest and asking questions if great at understanding better the anxiety your spouse may be going through with this life change.

ghada

Thursday 23rd of January 2020

thank you for really good tips .

Sherry M Lee

Wednesday 22nd of January 2020

My hubby and I have each gone through career transitions. His was a few years ago and I'm currently working through mine. In all honesty, he has been incredibly supportive through mine. I can't imagine how difficult this would be without his support.

vanessa

Wednesday 22nd of January 2020

Thanks for these great tips, I think I could really use this information.

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