By Dan Blair, marriage and family counselor
Minute Mood is an app that I developed to help my wife and I communicate on a deeper level. We have demanding jobs, we had lots of kids, and the time it takes to communicate on a deeper level was just not available. We were too tired to talk.
To keep us from drifting apart or even get resentful toward one another, I wanted to keep the lines of communication open. Especially if we’re extra stressed, or upset with each other, this was a way to reconnect without even sitting down to talk. Now I hope this app actually makes sitting down to talk easier, but Minute Mood helps you & your partner communicate how you’re feeling without saying a single word.
By taking a minute to journal what it is like at the toughest part of your day, you get the many benefits of journaling, and your partner gets insight into what you are feeling. This is an opportunity to show acceptance, understanding, and kindness to your partner later that day. Feeling understood by your partner lets you know you’re cared for, not alone, and you know your partner is taking the time to think about you and what you are saying instead of just immediately responding.
What if strengthening your relationship was as simple as minutes of journaling per day?
Research shows that empathy is foundational to a strong bond within relationships. Using the Minute Mood App when time may be lacking, or you are under deadlines, or just in two different time zones is one benefit. If you and your partner want to understand each other better, but frequently find yourselves unable to communicate your feelings effectively — this app was made for you. This app teaches empathy.
How can you and your relationship benefit from using the Minute Mood?
- Research shows how journaling reduces intrusive thoughts about negative events and your partner, while also improving working memory
- Journaling and co-journaling increases your own emotional management and reduces stress
- Writing leads to clear thinking – which in turn leads to clear communication and reduces misunderstandings
- Co-journaling increases thoughtful responses in writing, and in person
- It also provides personal mood tracking – anticipate and provide support to your partner
Get to know & use the 3 forms of empathy and elevate your communication – everyday.
Emotional
Feeling shared emotions with another.
- Identifying emotions is calming
- Allowing your partner to feel what they feeling
- Staying in tune so your partner does not feel alone
Cognitive
Understanding your partner’s feelings.
- Not about fixing the feelings
- It is about making sense of the feelings
- Letting them know their feelings matter
Behavioral
Action to support how someone is feeling.
- Offering comfort
- Appreciation
- Kindness
What’s inside Minute Mood?
Personal Daily Journal
Rate & track your moods to understand how your own thoughts and behaviors differ on good days and the bad days. Statistics can be accessed. It can be as simple as an emoji, but elaborate as much as you want in the journal. Expressing emotions in an objective form through writing helps you release negative thoughts from your mind. As you write, you may even come up with a solution to explore.
Co-Journal
You don’t have to be a writer!
Get insight into how your partner is feeling and their response to how you are feeling on a daily basis by reading what they share with you in their daily journal. Empathy practice increases your ability to use empathy in the moment.
Spark Meaningful Conversations
Rather than starting an argument, come together from a compassionate place and connect with each other over what you’ve shared. Good communication is the foundation of a lasting relationship, and this is where you’ll build that skill.
Disclaimer! This is not a place to criticize your partner or defend yourself. When you read what your partner has said, do not respond immediately. Instead, use it to connect with your partner later.
