SGR 083: How to Agree to Disagree When Under Extra Stress

The Simply Great Relationships Podcast: Love | Marriage | Sex | Communication | Dating Advice

Disagreements are challenging to navigate in general, but when you’re both under additional stress they can become explosive. Having the ability to recognize when an argument isn’t going anywhere and you and your partner may just not see eye-to-eye is key.

Agreeing to disagree means:

We fully heard each other’s position on this issue. We understand our own point of view and our partner’s. With that information, we still do not agree. We don’t “have to” agree or find a compromise right now. We can drop this and revisit it at a future time or it may not even require another conversation. We’re going to accept that we were not able to agree and move on with our day.

Having the ability to do this helps you avoid getting stuck in unnecessary conflict, spend more time feeling comfortable and supported in your relationship, and minimizes disruptions to rituals of connection and other positive routines.

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about:

- What makes agreeing to disagree so challenging
- How being able to agree to disagree benefits you and your relationship
- The exact steps to follow to agree to disagree successfully