What Do Happily Married Couples Think About?

Ep. 70 – What Do Happily Married Couples Think About?

We all have seen that couple that seems to be happy all the time. What is she thinking about? What goes on in his head? It can make us feel bad about our relationship if it isn’t currently giving off the same vibes.

In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by Jeremy Donovan and Bobby Lewis to talk about the mindsets of happily married couples. Happy couples usually think similarly, which contributes to a more positive perception of their spouse.

The episode gives dads practical advice and steps to try to build a happier marriage.

Why This Matters

We all want to have happy marriages. Who better to learn from than couples who are enjoying a great relationship?

Key Takeaways

In marriage, our thoughts matter most. The good news is we can all be more intentional with our thinking.

Couples who are part of happy marriages tend to have…

Positive Illusions: Your thoughts about your spouse matter. Having positive illusions is defined as the ability to overlook what you don’t like about somebody to focus on what you do like.
Empathy: When studied, happily married people had high levels of activity in the part of the brain that is responsible for empathy.
Controlled Emotions: Happy couples know how to keep their emotions from going too high or too low. This gives each person the chance to choose a loving and productive response to their spouse.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 00:54 | Introduction & Meet the Hosts
Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, and Jeremy Donovan introduce the episode and its theme.

00:54 – 02:01 | Big Question: What’s Going on in the Heads of Happily Married Couples?
Exploring the mindset and thought patterns of strong, happy marriages.

02:01 – 06:10 | Marriage Moves That Totally Flopped
Hosts share personal stories of well-intended but failed romantic gestures.

06:10 – 10:57 | The Science of Happy Marriages
How neuroscience reveals key thought patterns in successful couples.

10:57 – 16:33 | Positive Illusions: Seeing the Best in Your Spouse
Why focusing on strengths instead of flaws builds lasting love.

16:33 – 21:24 | The Power of Empathy in Marriage
Understanding and supporting your spouse instead of trying to fix everything.

21:24 – 26:42 | Controlling Emotions for a Healthier Marriage
Why emotional regulation is crucial for long-term relationship success.

26:42 – 30:57 | Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage Mindset
Daily habits that help couples grow closer and stay connected.

30:57 – 33:18 | Creating a Marriage Mission Statement
How defining shared goals strengthens commitment and unity.

33:18 – 34:57 | Pro Move of the Week: Apply One Key Marriage Mindset
Pick one area—positive illusions, empathy, or controlled emotions—and practice it for a week.

APD Pro Move:
Consider this week how you can implement positive illusions, empathy, or controlled emotions in your marriage.

Sponsor:
The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.