How to Help Your Spouse out of a Slump

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25

Spouses routinely underestimate the importance of a kind word.

We’re not talking about elaborate praise or a heartfelt poem, as wonderful as these things are.

We’re talking about the simple, everyday, kindness of small talk. Kind words, such as: “Thanks,” “You’re great,” “I missed you today.”

“The small day-to-day things you say are more important than any of the overarching communication issues,” says Clifford...