The Listening Lie: Why Your Marriage Can’t Survive on Pretend Ears
Let’s talk about the quiet killer in many marriages. It’s not the big blow-ups or the obvious betrayals. It’s something far more insidious, often disguised as compliance: pretending to listen. That vacant nod, the absent-minded “uh-huh,” the eyes glued to the phone while murmuring agreement. We’ve all done it, husbands included. And the tempting thought arises: “Is it easier to just pretend? Does it keep the peace?” Here’s the hard truth: pretending to listen is like building your marriage on tissue paper. It might look okay for a second, but the slightest pressure will tear it apart.
The idea that a husband should simply “listen to the wife” as a one-way directive misses the mark entirely. A good marriage isn’t about hierarchy or obligatory audience. It’s about partnership. It’s about connection. And genuine connection is impossible when one partner is performing a charade of...