Why does your spouse get to want things while you're drowning in responsibility? That resentment you feel watching your partner pursue hobbies while you manage everything isn't petty—it reveals what Tony identifies as one of the "fundamental wounds" in modern marriages: the split between duty and desire.Through the story of Sarah and Michael—a couple weeks from divorce—Tony explores how one partner can become a pure, exhausting obligation while the other escapes into hollow pleasures. Both are starving for what the other has, but neither can see it. You'll discover why the "serpent's trick" convinces us that what we want and what we should do are enemies when they were always meant to work together.In this episode, you'll learn:Why feeling like "a machine that keeps everyone running" signals you've lost connection to your own desires—and why reclaiming them is actually part of your duty as a parent and partnerThe difference between discipline that crushes your soul and discipline that creates freedom (hint: it depends on whether it's aligned with your actual values or just "socially compliant goals")How asking "what can I do to help?" often puts the mental load right back on your overwhelmed spouse.Why Michael's gaming and biking felt hollow even though Sarah assumed he was "living his best life."The concept of impermanence—and why accepting that your beliefs will evolve is liberating, not threateningTony Overbay, LMFT, draws from over 20 years of couples therapy and 1,500+ couples to share the exact framework that helped Sarah and Michael move from combat to connection.Ready to stop the cycle? Join the Magnetic Marriage waitlist at tonyoverbay.com/magnetic and learn what you don't know you don't know about reconnecting with your partner.00:00 Introduction and Host Background00:35 Common Relationship Challenges01:53 The Magnetic Marriage Program02:59 Today's Episode: Overwhelmed by Responsibilities03:37 Meet Sarah and Michael: A Struggling Couple03:57 Sarah's Perspective: Duty Over Desire13:12 Michael's Perspective: Desire Over Duty17:49 The Core Wound: Duty vs. Desire21:50 Connecting to Universal Archetypes28:10 Embracing Change and Growth28:26 Embracing Impermanence

The Virtual Couch

Tony Overbay LMFT

Duty vs. Desire: The Hidden War Inside Your Marriage

FEB 2, 202658 MIN
The Virtual Couch

Duty vs. Desire: The Hidden War Inside Your Marriage

FEB 2, 202658 MIN

Description

Why does your spouse get to want things while you're drowning in responsibility? That resentment you feel watching your partner pursue hobbies while you manage everything isn't petty—it reveals what Tony identifies as one of the "fundamental wounds" in modern marriages: the split between duty and desire.Through the story of Sarah and Michael—a couple weeks from divorce—Tony explores how one partner can become a pure, exhausting obligation while the other escapes into hollow pleasures. Both are starving for what the other has, but neither can see it. You'll discover why the "serpent's trick" convinces us that what we want and what we should do are enemies when they were always meant to work together.In this episode, you'll learn:Why feeling like "a machine that keeps everyone running" signals you've lost connection to your own desires—and why reclaiming them is actually part of your duty as a parent and partnerThe difference between discipline that crushes your soul and discipline that creates freedom (hint: it depends on whether it's aligned with your actual values or just "socially compliant goals")How asking "what can I do to help?" often puts the mental load right back on your overwhelmed spouse.Why Michael's gaming and biking felt hollow even though Sarah assumed he was "living his best life."The concept of impermanence—and why accepting that your beliefs will evolve is liberating, not threateningTony Overbay, LMFT, draws from over 20 years of couples therapy and 1,500+ couples to share the exact framework that helped Sarah and Michael move from combat to connection.Ready to stop the cycle? Join the Magnetic Marriage waitlist at tonyoverbay.com/magnetic and learn what you don't know you don't know about reconnecting with your partner.00:00 Introduction and Host Background00:35 Common Relationship Challenges01:53 The Magnetic Marriage Program02:59 Today's Episode: Overwhelmed by Responsibilities03:37 Meet Sarah and Michael: A Struggling Couple03:57 Sarah's Perspective: Duty Over Desire13:12 Michael's Perspective: Desire Over Duty17:49 The Core Wound: Duty vs. Desire21:50 Connecting to Universal Archetypes28:10 Embracing Change and Growth28:26 Embracing Impermanence28:45 Healing Through Change29:34 The Paradox of Certainty29:55 Sarah and Michael's Journey32:20 The Garden of Eden Metaphor33:07 The Serpent's Trick34:40 Modern Examples of Duty vs. Desire38:00 The Role of Discipline40:42 Integrating Duty and Desire48:42 Personal Reflections on Duty49:53 Values vs. Socially Compliant Goals54:05 Sarah and Michael's Progress56:24 Conclusion and Call to ActionGet on the waitlist today for Tony's upcoming Magnetic Marriage live course! Head to https://tonyoverbay.com/magneticContact Tony at [email protected] to learn more about his Emotional Architects men's group.