Let’s Talk Relationships: Building your emotional bank account

Relationship researcher Dr. John Gottman uses “emotional bank accounts” as a metaphor to describe our relationships. DepositsDeposits to our relationship’s emotional bank account are the everyday moments that communicate love, care, appreciation, respect and emotional safety. Withdrawals“Withdrawals” from our relationship’s emotional bank account may include criticism, contempt, blaming, defensiveness, ignoring, sarcasm, broken promises, harsh words and taking one another for granted. But when “withdrawals” consistently exceed “deposits,” the emotional bank account becomes overdrawn. ReflectionConsider the emotional bank account within your own relationship.