In these posts, we investigate in which areas our relationship can be improved. We also explore how we can improve our relationship in areas in which we perceive shortcomings.
According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, the holidays may not have as cheerful and merry an effect on many Americans as picture book stories might make us believe: Almost half of women and a third of men report heightened stress during the holiday season (American Psychological Association, 2006). It’s likely that stress …
11 Ways to Deal with Holiday Stress and Turn the Holidays Around Read More »
Have you ever been in a relationship where you wondered “Why am I so negative towards my partner?” Or maybe it’s your partner who keeps being overly critical. What do you do when someone only sees the bad in you? The Secret Years ago, I came across Maria (not her real name!) over a couple …
Relationship Killers, Part 3: When All You See is the Bad Read More »
In this article, we will discuss five different approaches to enhance your relationship; discover that little changes in your everyday life can have a big effect; share a number of ideas you can easily implement with little effort — just pick one or two. Spring is approaching and this month, many of us may be …
Jake and Marissa have been married for six years. If you asked them if they are happy with each other and if they love each other, they wouldn’t hesitate to say yes – they love each other dearly and can’t imagine life without the other. And yet, things have changed between the two of them. …
Passion in long-term relationships – 5 things you need to know Read More »
Valentine’s Day is around the corner once again, yay! Remember the good old times, and how different things used to be? Depending on where you live and what your personal circumstances are, you may not feel like taking your loved one out for a romantic dinner or to the movies. I was lucky this year: …
Searching in vain for the perfect Valentine’s Day When I was young, I loved paintings by Norman Rockwell. I spent so much time looking at them. They depicted a lovely Americana that we all wish we remembered. But we don’t remember it—not really–because it never quite existed. It is the stuff that fantasists’ dreams are …
If you are not looking forward to Valentine’s Day…. Read More »
In a relationship, partners constantly have to make decisions that affect both partners’ interests. In good relationships, however, partners act with wisdom and actively try to promote the other partner’s well-being and interests, sometimes at their own expense. In this article, we’ll discuss why wisdom is relevant if you want to have a good relationship; …
The Role of Wisdom in Successful Intimate Relationships Read More »
Every intimate relationship has a power balance, and that power balance is different for every couple. The balance of power may change over time and the type of situation with which a couple is dealing, but the balance is always there. If a particular power balance works depends on two factors What matters most are …
It’s impossible to know what your partner really feels for you. And yet, many of us grind ourselves up trying to figure out the “true” feelings of our partner. Since you can’t know for sure what your significant other is thinking or feeling, what can you do to figure out if your relationship is on …
When you’re in a relationship with another person, sooner or later you’ll experience your fair share of conflicts. But how do you successfully work through the tough conflicts? In this article, we’ll talk about intense conflict; examine how your expectations and attitude influence your behavior in conflict situations; delve into why it’s so hard to …