S4 Ep113 - 8 Lessons from 8 Years of Marriage: Communication, Connection & Staying a Team

Marriage isn’t just about love—it’s about learning how to communicate, stay connected, and choose each other in the messy middle. After 8 years married (10+ together), I’m sharing the 8 lessons that turned resentment and miscommunication into deeper intimacy, more laughter, and a rock-solid team.

You’ll learn:

• Why small hurts fester—and a simple cadence for hard conversations

• How specificity (dishes, gifts, date night) ends disappointment

• The appreciation effect: getting more of what you want without nagging

• “Us vs. the problem”: shifting conflict into collaboration

• Everyday ways to build physical + emotional connection (hugs are foreplay)

• How playfulness keeps desire alive in busy seasons

• Dreaming together so you don’t drift apart

• Using shared values to make decisions (and drop what doesn’t matter)

Resources:

• Related episode: 5 Ways The Queen’s Code Shifts Your Perspective About Men

• Explore the Sensual Embodiment Collective for practices that turn ideas into embodied change https://janninemackinnon.com/sensual-embodiment-collective/

• Free Honey Pot Meditation for a 10-minute connection reset https://janninemackinnon.com/honey-pot/