Married at First Sight's Experts Reveal the Unexpected "Key" to a Strong Relationship
Paul C. Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz shared their expert insight on burning relationship topics.
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Key Takeaways
- MAFS experts Paul C. Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz emphasize that communication is essential in relationships, and working through struggles together can strengthen a marriage.
- Brunson believes healthy boundaries are the best way to handle tension between a spouse and family members, while Dr. Paz argues partners should actively help bridge those conflicts.
- The experts’ differing perspectives on relationship dynamics help couples gain clarity and encourage honest conversations that can lead to emotional breakthroughs.
As Season 20 of Married at First Sight continues to deliver the twists and turns, the experts are weighing in on some of the viewers' most pressing couple concerns.
The Season 20 newlyweds are navigating a wild summer of romance after swapping vows with total strangers at the altar, and viewers can't get enough. While some of the couples are hitting it off and thriving in their pairings, others have struggled to see sparks, relying on experts Paul C. Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz to help guide them to a hopefully happily ever after.
RELATED: All About Married at First Sight Season 20's Honeymoons & the Dreamy Destination
After getting a flurry of fan questions, the experts sat down to chat about common problems that arise in relationships, weighing in on how they'd tackle miscommunication. As Brunson says at the top of the video shared on social media, "Communication is everything; it's the Achilles heel of a relationship."
Read on to find out what they said is the "key" to a strong relationship, how to handle tension, and more.
MAFS Paul C. Brunson explains why "struggle" makes relationships stronger
For the first fan question to ponder, Dr. Paz read aloud: "My wife and I communicate very differently, and it hurts our marriage. How can we improve our communication skills?"
"Oh my gosh, I would say, first is, I love that you recognize that it hurts the marriage," Brunson said. "All successful relationships go through struggle, and it's the struggle that makes it stronger, so just appreciate that. That's the key; there should be appreciation in the struggle."
Dr. Paz couldn't agree with Brunson more about the value of communication, soon pivoting to another fan question for the MAFS experts: conflict between spouses and family members. "Oh, I love this," Dr. Paz laughed. "How should I handle tension between my spouse and my family?"
Brunson chuckled, privy to the all-too-common qualm in relationships. "Oh my gosh, well I would have no clue about that," Brunson joked.
"Lucky you," Dr. Paz quipped.
"But I tell you what, here's the thing: it's not our responsibility to ensure the love between our partner and their family," Brunson said. "The only thing that we can do is help them to create healthy boundaries."
While Dr. Paz and Brunson were on the same page about communication within marriages, they approach family dynamics a tad differently when touching base with couples. Dr. Paz told Brunson that she found his advice "interesting," admitting she had a "different take."
"I think it's our responsibility to bridge the gap," Dr. Paz elaborated. "So, if you don't like my mom or she doesn't like him, I think it's on me to be like, 'I love you both, you're hurting me.'"
"Oh wow, no," Brunson said, sticking to his guns. "So here's why I hit eject on this, because their relationship is not my responsibility."
"And that's why you're healthy, and I'm codependent, Dr. Paz laughed.
RELATED: MAFS Experts Reveal the #1 Compatibility Factor for Couples Taking This Next Step
Part of the beauty of Married at First Sight is the balanced panel of relationship experts, with Dr. Paz and Brunson both approaching marriage and relationship dynamics from different angles. While the experts agree on many fundamentals, their ability to share different perspectives allows the couples to gain better clarity about their newfound connections.
During Season 20's first-ever group session, Brunson and Dr. Paz encouraged the couples to communicate and share their concerns truthfully, leading to several emotional breakthroughs among the newlyweds. Brunson and Dr. Paz are happy to remind them that their struggles can make them stronger, and viewers can't wait to see which connections can survive the gripping experiment.
RELATED: How Married at First Sight Works: A Complete Guide to the Timeline, Process, and More
Keep up with the matchmaking experts by watching new episodes of Married at First Sight Season 20 weekly on Thursdays this summer, only on Peacock.
