You and your spouse just had a huge fight. You're absolutely sure you're in the right and most likely your spouse feels the same way. You have a few options:
- You could continue fighting.
- You could stop fighting and let the upset simmer for awhile (maybe days or weeks).
- You could both take a walk around the block (each in the opposite direction) until the two of you are extroverted from the upset.
I'm going to recommend Option Number 3.
When two people are very upset, it's difficult to resolve things from that very upset state of mind. If the two of you take a walk around the block, the idea is to walk long enough until you are "extroverted" from the upset. In other words, you've popped out of the upset and you no longer want to strangle your spouse. While on this walk, each of you needs to put your attention on things in your external environment: look at plants, trees, houses, other people, clouds, etc. Put your attention on things outside of you and this will produce an extroversion from the upset. And, as mentioned, each of you goes a different direction on this walk.
When the two of you have successfully completed this walk, you can then sit down and take a fresh look at what's upsetting both of you.
Do not underestimate the effectiveness of this "walk." I can absolutely assure you it will put the two of you in a better position to resolve the upset before it gets too far out of hand (or goes onto the backburner where both of you stay upset for awhile).
In my book, When the Thrill Is Gone, additional procedures are given to resolve marital upsets. There is also an entire chapter to help people get over the loss and upset of a previous relationship that didn't end well.
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