
Stuck in the Same Fight: how naming patterns can break the cycles
From Marriage Lab by Aaron & Jenna Zint
January 12, 2026 · 33 min · Season 4 · Episode 1
About this episode
This episode discusses how naming emotional and relational patterns can help break cycles of conflict in marriage.
Why do the same conflicts keep showing up in marriage—even when the topic keeps changing? In this episode, we talk about the power of naming your patterns: the emotional and relational loops that quietly drive conflict, disconnection, and reactivity. We share real examples from our marriage, parenting, and coaching work to show how awareness creates space between a trigger and your response. When you can name what’s happening inside you—passivity, shutdown, avoidance, mind-reading, or self-re...
People in this episode
Hosts: Aaron Zint, Jenna Zint
Topics covered
- conflict resolution
- marriage patterns
- emotional awareness
- relationship dynamics
- parenting
- coaching
Keywords
- marriage
- conflict
- patterns
- emotional loops
- awareness
- reactivity
- parenting
- coaching
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