Someone who wisely chose to remain anonymous once said, “Marriage is like a walk in the park… Jurassic Park.”

Have you ever found yourself struggling to get on the same page as your partner? Finances, parenting and family dynamics can make it challenging to find common ground. Maybe you’ve even found yourself at odds on how to spend your retirement or structure your legacy planning. Here’s some help.

1. See conflict as an opportunity. Conflict is uncomfortable but it’s an unavoidable part of intimacy. The best way to resolve it is to see it as necessary for growth. Conflict helps us rethink priorities, uncover harmful patterns, and identify weaknesses – so we can work to fix them.
2. The wise way is better than “my way.” It’s human nature to see our way of doing something as superior, and in some instances, it is! But other times we’re being motivated by self-preservation or fear. When you feel defensiveness kick up inside, take a deep breath, slow down, and get curious. That internal spike of emotion is often revealing something deeper. When we can unpack why we are feeling a certain way, it can help us humble ourselves to hear someone else’s idea – which may be the wiser choice.
3. Consider inspiration over information. We recently heard about a couple having a difference of opinion over whether to share their end-of-life plans with their children. One spouse felt the plans should be kept private while the other wanted to communicate them. We recommend openness.

There’s a big difference between seeing your estate plan as a complicated legal or financial arrangement or seeing it as an expression of your values.

When your will aligns with your values of faith, family, causes and organizations that inspire you, it becomes rich with meaning – a crucial part of your family heritage you’ll want to pass along. Communicating legacy plans today creates peace and unity tomorrow.