The Tiny Moments That Make or Break Your Marriage: Emotional Bids

The Tiny Moments That Make or Break Your Marriage: Emotional Bids

From Enneagram and Marriage by Christa Hardin, MA

June 10, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

This episode explores the significance of emotional bids in marriage and how small moments can impact relational dynamics.

What if the thing that determines whether your marriage thrives or slowly fades isn't the big fights or the grand gestures, but the hundred tiny moments in between? In this episode, Christa unpacks one of Gottman's most important and least-talked-about discoveries: emotional bids. Every day your spouse is making small, quiet requests for connection, and you're either turning toward them, away from them, or against them without even realizing it. Learn what bids actually look like (they almost never announce themselves), why partners with the same love language can still miss each other constantly, and the one shift that changes the entire relational climate in your home. This episode is part of the Summer of Intimacy series. Show notes:⁠⁠ ⁠Get on the waitlist so you can get info about our Awakening Intimacy Intensive!⁠ ⁠⁠Get your E + M Love Map Questions Freebie here!⁠⁠ Stay tuned for our Summer Intensives, Awakening Intimacy (track 1) and Awakening Adventure (track 2) beginning the week of July 13! Scroll down on our podcast page to find episodes on intimacy ⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠ https://www.enneagramandmarriage.com/pod Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our…

People in this episode

Host: Christa Hardin

Topics covered

  • emotional bids
  • marriage
  • connection
  • intimacy
  • love languages

Keywords

  • emotional bids
  • marriage
  • connection
  • intimacy
  • love languages
  • Gottman

More episodes of Enneagram and Marriage

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Enneagram and Marriage podcast page.