Now that the weather is better, I want to take a walk with my husband or ride bikes after dinner. He won’t get off the couch! How do I get him to move with me?
I’m a big believer in refraining from trying to force someone to do something. As soon as a person, a spouse or otherwise, feels pressure, he or she will resist. Giving options, however, might give your spouse the freedom to choose, and thereby keep him from feeling controlled. Although he may still decline the invitation, at least he will have been given options. For example, asking him if he’d like to choose between a half-hour walk or a fifteen minute walk, might open his mind to moving. Or asking him to walk or ride bikes either one evening or the other might help him feel less constrained. We all want the ability to choose. Just reatlize he may choose to stay on the couch. If that’s the case, you’ll want to let it go, and go out and get yourself some exercise.
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