581: How to Repair and Heal Damaged Relationships

According to  a 75-year-old Harvard study on happiness, the single greatest predictor of a happy and long life is close, healthy relationships. But when a close relationship fractures, whether that’s with a close friend or especially your spouse, it can have a devastating impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing that can take months, if not years to overcome.

So today, I want to share a 5-step process for repairing and healing damaged relationships that’s truly been transformative in my own life. Over the past 6 months, I’ve repaired my relationship with my daughter and with my wife on more than one occasion. Whether you're the one who’s been hurt or the one who’s done the hurting, there’s a path forward—and it starts with humility, empathy, and a willingness to grow.

What I’ve found is that in order to move forward, we have to learn how to shift from blame to responsibility, how to truly listen to someone else’s pain without defensiveness, and why forgiveness—both for yourself and others—is essential to healing. This isn’t about quick fixes or pretending everything is okay. It’s about doing the hard but meaningful work of showing up with love, honesty, and vulnerability to restore the relationships that matter most in your life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Why healing a broken relationship starts with taking 100% responsibility
• The importance of listening without judgment—even if it’s uncomfortable
• Forgivingness can be difficult, but liberating yourself from anger is much healthier
• You can’t force or rush the healing process or rebuild trust. It takes time
• Practical steps to begin the healing process, even if the other person isn’t ready.

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To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/581

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