Most of us, at one time or another, have been in situations when we were angry, frustrated, or perhaps disappointed in our mate. This is normal. But the question then is, what do you do with those emotions? Some might answer, “Well, I go somewhere quiet and decompress.” “I reflect on what happened to see…
Do You Have Their Back?
Most of us, at one time or another, have been in situations when we were angry, frustrated, or perhaps disappointed in our mate. This is normal. But the question then is, what do you do with those emotions? Some might answer, “Well, I go somewhere quiet and decompress.” “I reflect on what happened to see…
Do You Have Connecting Practices?
“Connecting practices? You mean like playing with the toys?” No, that would be K’nex (Don’t worry – I didn’t know it was spelled that way either). I am talking about normal practices that you have with your spouse, your kids, or even your grandkids. For example – do you and your spouse kiss each other…
When Disagreements are Hard
Remember when you were dating your future spouse and you seemed to agree on everything? You wanted two children and so did he. You both liked Italian food, wanted to travel, enjoyed hiking, and had the same spiritual goals. Nothing could be better. However, once you got married, you discovered that you weren’t quite as…
Is Communication an Illusion?
In a quote from a Fortune Magazine article, William H. Whyte said, “The great enemy of communication is the illusion of it.” That is an excellent picture of what so many individuals fall prey to. Your spouse wants you to communicate, so you make every effort to talk more with them. However, even though you…
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
I remember when this phrase was all the rage as part of an advertising campaign for “The National Enquirer Magazine.” And I can’t help but remember that phrase when I think about healthy relationships. You see, one of the hallmarks of healthy marriages is having an inquisitive mind when it comes to your mate. Whether…
How Are You Outside of Your Comfort Zone?
The answer for a lot of people is probably, “I don’t know. I try not to get outside of my comfort zone.” If that is really true, then we are probably not doing much growing. But think for a minute – “What is outside of your safe space?” A common one for people is public…
How Do You Stop the FIght?
I sit with couples on a regular basis who argue and fight. They tell about their conflicts at home and they frequently live those conflicts out in my office. Fortunately, when they are sitting with me, I am often able to redirect them or get them to pause their thinking and consider other possibilities. When…
Who is Better to Marry – Your Opposite or Yourself?
Many, if not most people, seem to find a mate that is different than they are. They may have qualities that are completely opposite of their own, which is no surprise. You see, we are frequently attracted to what we don’t have. For example, a person who is an introvert may be attracted to a…
How Are You Outside of Your Comfort Zone?
The answer for a lot of people is probably, “I don’t know. I try not to get outside of my comfort zone.” If that is really true, then we are probably not doing much growing. But think for a minute – “What is outside of your safe space?” A common one for people is public…


