Ritual of Connections and Open-Ended Questions
At the request of therapists and couples, this 2-in-1 fun exercise is now available to the general public!  It's a highly practical and results-oriented addition to other Gottman intimacy and friendship-building tools (like our Love Map & Salsa cards, and the new 52 Questions card deck).Asking Open-Ended Questions cards:The best step in knowing somebody well is to ask questions that deepen your understanding of him or her. "Did you call the plumber today?" is not a question that tells you much about a partner's internal world. But what if you ask, "If you had all the money in the world, what would your dream house be like?" You'd find out something entirely different. Open-ended questions have stories for answers-and layers of meaning that can help you understand the heart of who our partners are. These cards are a terrific gateway to increased intimacy and friendship.Building Rituals of Connection cards:In his book The Intentional Family, Bill Dougherty discusses "rituals of connection" as an important tool for successful relationships. A Ritual of Connection is a method of 'turning towards' one another that is reliable and can be counted on. A Ritual of Connection needs to be thought out and planned. When will it happen? How often? Where? Who will initiate it? How will it unfold? Another example of a Ritual of Connection is greeting each other at the end of the day. Will there be a hug? A kiss? Questions like, "What were your highs?" "Your lows?" Couples can decide which rituals to include in their lives together using this exercise.