Repair a Relationship with an Effective Letter
Relationship cut-offs are painful. They can trigger feelings of hurt, helplessness, hopelessness, and rejection. We might also feel angry, defensive, and mistreated. Years ago, I felt all those emotions. But I also discovered how to repair a relationship with a letter, dozens of them.
Each month for eleven years I wrote a letter to our estranged daughter as she spent time in and out of jail with drug-related charges. As our book, Love Her As She Is: Lessons from a Daughter Stolen by Addictions, describes, a letter or letters can often provide the first steps toward relationship repair. They did for us.
But as Shelle Rose Charvet wrote, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. But in relationships it takes two wills to make the way. So what can you do to rebound a relationship, whether that is with a lover, spouse, parent, adult child, or friend? You attempt to promise meaningful change to turn things around. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see (in the world).” And your take the first steps to write a letter. First let us explore what is involved.
It’s often hard to decide what to say to fix a relationship. So, if you are thinking of writing a “I want to fix things between us letter”, here are some ideas:
Repair a Relationship Letter Considerations
As you craft a message to fix a broken relationship do so with realistic expectations You are planting the seed of relationship repair with little or no expectation of the other person:
- Do not wait for the other person to do the lion’s share of change. Be the role model of maturity, love, and receptive calm.
- Start writing when you feel love and compassion for the other.
- Attempt to picture the other person with soft, compassionate eyes. Write for them. Write to their point of view. Use empathy. The letter is not about making you look good or right. It is an attempt to reconnect.
- This is not the time to shun vulnerability. Allow yourself to deeply know, feel and express your heart’s pain.
- Write in the way you speak. If you don’t use mushy language, now is not the time to start. Be honestly kind, while sharing your genuine feelings.
- If angry or defensive feelings surface, remember underneath those feelings are softer ones such as sad, hurt, lonely, and worried.
- Only point out past experiences that you miss and want re-established.
- Avoid creating drama by excluding blaming, rescuing or victim language.
- Do not attempt to guilt or make the other person wrong. The right fighting game always ends with more pain.
- After writing the letter, sleep on it and review it the next day.
- Consider requesting that you read the letter to the other person while appreciating it might be better to mail it. Do you tend to be reactive and easily triggered? If so, you risk losing your letter’s thoughtful power. Why? Because unhealed wounds can cause instant disruption and prevent any meaningful communication. Slow mail gives the other person time to consider your heartfelt message and time to consider an appropriate response.
- Appreciate the dangers of texts and emails which can enable a reactive response or a quick Share to other people. The two of you are in a relationship disconnect and only the two of you can make a relationship repair. Try to contain the distribution of your message.
- If you doubt the authenticity or lack of finger pointing in your letter, arrange for confidential feedback. Ask someone whom you trust to be kind, honest, and fair to both of you.
- Accept that you may receive no response, may receive a response you don’t want, or may even receive a defensive, angry, or attacking response.
- If the response is less than favourable, continue to be the change you want to see. Do not blame, defend, attack, or spread negative word about the other person to others.
- In one to two months consider sending another letter. Remember, I did once a month for eleven years!
As you prepare to write, ponder this quote from the American poet, Edwin Markham:
“He drew a circle that shut me out – heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in!”
See if you can write with a sense of lovingly drawing the other person towards you, not away. Here are some helpful steps.
Steps to Write a Letter to Repair a Relationship
As you use this letter template, remember the words are best when they resonate with your authentic voice.
One: Describe the Relationship Cut-off
Acknowledge that there was a relationship disconnect.
Examples:
- We have not spoken since . . .
- As you know, we have had tension and emotional distance since . . .
- Perhaps, like me, you have sensed the distance between us.
- Ever since the day we parted, I have disliked this rupture to . . .
Two: Share How You Feel and the Affects of the Disconnect
Describe your feelings of sadness, loss, or worry.
Examples:
- I feel sad about . . .
- I keep feeling . . .
- It has been too long since I felt you close to me and . . .
- I miss you so much I actually . . .
- The hardest part for me has been (blaming myself, imagining you no longer care, etc) . . .
- I keep thinking I could . . .
- I keep thinking you might . . .
- I dream about . . .
- I don’t know what to say when people ask . . .
- I wonder, “How did this go so wrong?”
- I do not like this disconnect from you and . . .
- I feel the loss of your . . .
Three: Reminisce about Loving Times in Your Relationship
Embed some loving positivity and hope into your message.
Examples:
- We used to . . .
- I remember the first time (I held you, we kissed, etc) . . .
- It touched my heart the day you . . .
- I was just thinking about the days when . . .
- I keep thinking about when we used . . .
- I remember when you gave me . . .
- When I think about you, I remember the joy (love, comfort, support, fun) I felt when you . . .
Optional and IMPORTANT: Apologize
If you even imagine you said or did (even did an eye roll) something to contribute to the disconnect, own it, and use the Research Based Apology template at this LINK.
Four: State What You Want
We are apt to get our desires if we are clear about them to ourselves and the other person. Make your intentions clear.
Examples:
- I want to talk, share, and laugh with you again. I want . . .
- Our relationship didn’t unfold as I wanted but I continue to love you, and . . .
- Please know that my love for you has not changed. I love your . . .
- I want to, once again, experience your hugs, smile and . . .
- My main message is “I love you.”
Five: Declare What You Will Do to Get the Change You Want
Express your desire for an improved relationship by committing to positive change. Of course, the expectation is that you will follow-through with integrity, so do not set yourself up for failure. Make a realistic promise.
Examples:
- To reconnect with you, I am willing to . . .
- We could start with a five-minute phone call. I promise to . . .
- I want to do my part to reconnect with you. . .
- I am willing to make changes, to really listen, and find a way to . . .
- Please know I am committed to find a way for both of us to . . .
Six: Invite First Steps to Reconnect
With no guilting, invite the other person to move towards you.
Examples:
- If you miss me, like I do you, we could start by . . .
- Perhaps we could both sit, listen, and not say words that will hurt and . . .
- I want you to know how much you mean to me and how comforting it would be if we could . . .
- What ideas do you have?
- What can I say or do to help you trust and connect with me?
It’s Never too Late to Repair a Relationship
Andy Chaleff, author of The Last Letter: Embracing Pain to Create a Meaningful Life had a violent father and loving mother. In his youth, his mother died from a drinking and driving incident. Following his loss, he was depressed for over twenty years. But he eventually processed and healed his pain. Through remembering a letter to his mother, Chaleff made real the saying Love conquers all. He suggests these three letter writing steps.
- Imagine the person you miss.
- As you imagine walking towards that person, imagine them in a coffin.
- Write a letter of the positive impact that person had on you.
Conclusion
What if none of this works? My hope is you experience some peace. You attempted to repair a relationship with a letter. Plus, your letter may plant a seed that grows into an eventual and positive outcome. Relationships can provide painful and loving lessons. I send my blessings.
Please check out these related posts:
Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend . . . Book Summary
Five Steps to an Authentic and Research Based Apology
March 7, 2025 @ 10:16 pm
This is an excellent and insightful post on repairing and strengthening relationships. Your practical advice on communication, understanding, and rebuilding trust offers valuable guidance for anyone seeking to heal and improve their connections. It’s inspiring to see content that emphasizes the importance of empathy, patience, and mutual effort in restoring relationships. Thank you for sharing such meaningful and practical wisdom — looking forward to reading more of your helpful content!
March 9, 2025 @ 2:04 pm
Thank you Ruthanne,
I appreciate your acknowledgement. I see your website is The Golf Pro Has Heart. It looks like an interesting book on Relationships. Congratulations! ❤️🐞
February 24, 2025 @ 4:10 am
This article provides valuable insights into repairing relationships with practical and heartfelt strategies. Communication, empathy, and self-awareness are truly key to rebuilding connections. A must-read for anyone seeking to heal and strengthen their relationships.
February 24, 2025 @ 12:39 pm
Thank you for your comment Rishi. Your work looks very interesting. It appears we are both sharing perspectives on enhancing relationships. ❤️🐞
December 2, 2023 @ 11:29 pm
Interesting list here Annabel. Thank you for your contribution and the blessing.
November 11, 2023 @ 12:24 pm
Good evening. Can you please help me? I’m totally disconnected with my wife and now she hates me a lot. I used to fight with her a lot (urgue and shout). Now she had decided to move to the children’s bedroom. Can you please assist me with words that will comfort her, encourage her and show her the importance of 13 years since we have been married.
Regards, Kenneth
November 14, 2023 @ 11:25 am
Dear Kenneth,
Congratulations on reaching out, asking for guidance, and knowing that arguing and shouting cause harm in a marriage, in any relationship. You ask what words to comfort, encourage and show your wife the importance of your many years of marriage.
Words are not enough. Making amends, commitment to change, and then action are required to earn her trust and repair your relationship. Replacing arguing and shouting with sitting down, listening, committing to be more respectful and loving, and then doing so, are all important. Healthy relationships do not just magically happen. They require daily habits of listening and speaking respectfully and working as a partnership, along with cherishing behaviours.
I highly recommend, if your wife is willing, to go to marriage therapy. If she is not willing, find a good therapist for yourself. There is a reason you are arguing and shouting, and you can change that. It is difficult to identify our own poor patterns, while a trained professional can help do that and then guide you to more loving behaviours.
In the meantime, there are many other articles on my website to help you start making changes. I suggest you look at:
* Book Summary: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work at https://www.solutionsforresilience.com/the-seven-principles-for-making-marriage-work Note: Consider buying this book, reading it and doing the exercises. https://www.amazon.ca/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0609805797/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417243377&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Seven+Principles+for+Making+Marriage+Work* Relationship Fighting and 12 Tips to Do Relationship at https://www.solutionsforresilience.com/relationship-fighting
* Conversation Quizzes: How to More Effectively Speak and Listen at https://www.solutionsforresilience.com/conversation-quizzes
* How to Stop Your Relationship Drama at https://www.solutionsforresilience.com/relationship-drama
* How to Proactively Mend a Broken Relationship athttps://www.solutionsforresilience.com/broken-relationship
You can do this! Please let me know how you are doing with these suggestions. Ok?
All the best! ❤️🐞
October 18, 2023 @ 1:20 pm
Very reliable
October 22, 2023 @ 1:06 am
Tell us more about “very reliable.” Ok?
September 9, 2024 @ 6:35 am
Good morning. I really hope you can or are able to help me save my relationship. My fiancé and I have been together for 2 years and they have been great. We got really close really fast and everything just fell into place perfectly. We have so much in common in so many ways, our interests, our goals, even our past home life, up bringing and experiences (trauma), both good and bad, are literally almost the same.
However, a couple of months ago he started communicating less. He used to send texts throughout the day just saying “I love you” or asking how my day was going. Now he barely texts me at all and says he doesn’t have time, which I’ve noticed in his call logs and messages he has time for everyone else but me.
He also started spending more time away from home, and would blame it on working late or having to help someone with something. Even when he does come home, he always acts like he’s too busy to spend time with me and makes up excuse after excuse like he has a million things to get done. But when all is said and done none of which he stated got done.
All he does now when around me is stay on his phone, supposedly watching YouTube or checking email, etc. When I try to get his attention, that I wanna talk about somethings that are bothering me, he gets annoyed and will just stand there doing whatever he’s doing and say “Talk, I’m listening” but won’t actually look at me or show any interest in what I’m saying. He gets defensive and angry when I try to express myself and how I feel unwanted, neglected, and a burden to him and he dismisses them or turns them around and blames me saying my thoughts are crazy and I’m wrong. All I’ve ever in 2 years asked of him was time and affection. Literally I’ve never asked for money or material things. But he will use the phrase “this is who I am” or “I will try to make an effort to show you affection.”
Please help! I don’t know what to do or if it’s even worth trying to save?!?!?
Thanks for your time!
September 10, 2024 @ 5:40 pm
Dear Serenity,
Good on you for leaving your message. As I read it, I imagine your feelings of rejection, neglect, and disconnection, and disappointment. I can only imagine your pain.
You give a clue to what might be happening between you and your boyfriend when you write, “”experiences with trauma.” Your pattern of pursuing him for what he is unwilling or unable to give and his pattern of withdrawing from you are indicators of unresolved trauma. There is no easy strategy to mend your disconnection with him.
When psychological patterns are involved, it is difficult to change it on your own or within the relationship. Couples counselling, with an informed and experienced therapist, can help the two of you work on relationship repair. There are several posts on this website that might help you be informed. To find an effective relationship therapist look for one who is trained in the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, or has trained with Terry Real or Esther Perel. You can also do a local search using Psychology Today — https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists
Where there is a will, there is a way. In relationships it take two wills to make the way. So check with him if he is willing to go with you for some couple work. If he is not, I highly recommend you seek some counselling therapy for yourself to find other avenues to feel cherished and loved. ❤️🐞