The 30 Dashboard-Essentials for Couples are rolled out in The Relationship Rocket Formula (spring 2025). The Relationship Rocket Quiz helps couples assess which components are strong and which need some work in their relationships.
Understanding the Dashboard
Here is a reality—the 30 Dashboard-Essentials for Couples are already at work in your marriage! Whether you’re aware of them or not, they are there, shaping the condition and quality of your relationship every day. You might want to picture these 30 key relationship components as the dashboard of a car. Every time you drive, you are monitoring and adjusting about 30 different dials, switches, indicators, gauges and settings. The captain of a cruise ship has about 400 to keep an eye on while the pilot of the space shuttle has closer to 1400! In comparison, 30 controls don’t seem all that daunting after all.
Navigating these 30 Dashboard-Essentials for Couples may seem overwhelming at first, but think of it like becoming familiar with your car’s dashboard.
Over time, checking the fuel gauge, adjusting the temperature, and watching the speedometer become second nature. Similarly, by tuning in to these relationship components, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to steer, accelerate, and maintain balance in your relationship. This isn’t about adding stress; it’s about gaining confidence and clarity. These 30 components form a practical roadmap to guide your relationship toward new depth, purpose, and resilience.
These 30 components form a practical roadmap to guide your relationship toward new depth, purpose, and resilience.
The 30 Essentials
Explore each component that drives your relationship forward
Shared Goals
Working together to identify and achieve mutual objectives.
Quantity Time
Investing significant amounts of time to strengthen the bond.
Purposeful Words
Choosing words with care to uplift, encourage, and communicate truth.
Grace
Embracing setbacks with compassion and understanding, fostering growth through kindness.
Curiosity
The attitude that always believes there is more to discover.
Sacrifice
A willingness to pay a price and forgo personal advantage for the sake of the other.
Determination
A dogged resolve and strategic approach to invest in the relationship.
Forgiveness
Navigating failures without holding grudges and genuinely forgiving mistakes.
Passion
Igniting a fire inside to turn apathy into passionate action.
Healthy Emotions
The ability to identify, name, and express emotions respectfully.
Historical Awareness
Being mindful of the background, experiences, words, and challenges that have shaped your partner.
Transparency
Openness and vulnerability that create intimacy and trust.
Compassion
Understanding and addressing each other’s emotional wounds with empathy and care.
Adventure
A fresh pursuit of life through shared experiences and exploration together.
Shared Expectations
Sharing and managing expectations in a healthy manner.
Growth-Mindset
Embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and development in the relationship.
Anticipation
A relationship filled with hope-filled expectations and a vibrant future.
God-Powered Love
Experiencing a divine love that transcends ordinary feelings and fosters deep connection.
Gratitude
Regularly expressing appreciation for each other.
Kindness
Thoughtful, caring actions that consistently nurture and support, regardless of circumstances.
Empathy
Understanding and sharing your partner’s feelings and experiences.
Respect
Valuing each other’s opinions, perspectives, lived experiences, and individuality.
Active Listening
Genuinely hearing and understanding your partner’s words and feelings.
Honor
Treating your partner’s words, preferences, and personhood with value and weightiness.
Affection
Showing love through words, actions, and gestures.
Romance
Keeping the spark alive through unexpected gestures, words, and initiatives.
Physical Intimacy
Touching and stimulating emotional closeness in both non-sexual and sexual ways.
Conflict Resolution
Managing disagreements constructively without resorting to blame and anger.
Attentiveness
Alertness and focused awareness on the other, expressing honor and care.
Teamwork
Sharing responsibilities and complementing each other’s contributions.
Ready to discover which of these 30 essentials need attention in your relationship?
Take the Quiz