Since the pandemic began we have all had to accept this new normal and settle for a new way of living and being. Settling, which is defined as accepting or agreeing to something that one considers to be less than satisfactory, has become even more familiar as we navigate through this unfamiliar space. We don’t know when we will go back to normal. So everything has been … [Read more...]
Bad Relationship Advice: Why These 5 Phrases Hurt Our Marriages
You can't take relationship advice from just anyone. Bad marriage advice can come from anywhere. For the good of your marriage, be selective by only taking advice from those you trust, who love you, and who’ve demonstrated the key behaviors for their own relationship success. People can unintentionally steer you wrong with their thinking of what a good marriage looks like. And … [Read more...]
Feeling Unfulfilled? How to Balance a One-Sided Relationship
I can’t even begin to share how often I have heard one spouse complain about the other in my coaching practice. They both feel unfulfilled in marriage in some way. The idea of marriage they had in their minds doesn’t align with the reality they are experiencing. It’s common to feel unfulfilled in your marriage at some point in time. One spouse will make a mistake or the other … [Read more...]
20 Things to Be Grateful for in Your Marriage
As you prepare to leave 2020 in the rearview mirror, reflection is important. Not just reflecting on the year itself, but also thinking back to what you’ve experienced and learned in your marriage and about your spouse. Also reflecting on how to be grateful in relationships. You have likely grown in some way and that is something to be grateful for. Now is a great time to … [Read more...]
Preparing Your Marriage for Success in 2021
As this year comes to a close, it is important to reflect, not on what we lost but what we gained. 2020 was not a complete loss. Most marriages weathered the storm and are better than ever. And though there are others who still find themselves struggling, all hope is not lost. I ask you to join me in being hopeful about what’s to come, and together let’s all look forward to a … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Keep Your Spouse Encouraged During Difficult Times
Life as we know it is harder than it has ever been for many of us. You have to worry about making sure your job is secure, your family is healthy, and that you are practicing your self-care. When it comes to your spouse’s needs, you might be forgetting they too need some inspiration. In this article, we will explore 5 ways to keep your spouse encouraged during difficult … [Read more...]
Three Ways You and Your Spouse Can Become Real Couple Goals
You have surely seen #CoupleGoals all over social media. The images that accompany the hashtag are of couples being happy in love, or so it seems. Some, unfortunately, look really amazing on the outside, but may not be worth admiring from the inside. Love can really look good on people and can make others desire that for themselves. The real goal is that our relationships … [Read more...]
The Conversations Single Women Are Having Right Now and How It May Be Affecting Marriage Prospects
Some of the most interesting concepts, comments, and thoughts come from conversations about marriage. As a relationship professional, I often find myself giving single women dating advice to help prepare them for marriage. I have learned, through those discussions, that what we say about marriage and how we express our needs may have an impact on the type of person that may be … [Read more...]
5 Techniques for Cooling Down Your Anger Before You Unleash on Your Spouse
Anger, if it is not properly managed, can cause irreparable damage in your marriage. Though it is a common response when you don’t get what you want, you can’t let it control how you connect with your spouse. It is important to manage yourself and understand how to deal with an angry spouse. If you need a little guidance, keep reading for how to deal with an angry spouse and 5 … [Read more...]
Relationship Baggage: How It May Be Showing Up In Your Marriage and What to Do About It
Love isn’t always easy. Each partner brings their own set of past relationship baggage to a new relationship that includes their upbringing, life experiences, and the past. These things can either enhance or hinder you as a partner. The imprint left by an ex-partner can get in the way of having a successful marriage. If you are wondering how your relationship baggage may be … [Read more...]
Why Loving Yourself Will Make You a Better Lover to Your Spouse
Marriage burnout is a thing. If you do not create a safe space to love yourself, you will not be able to properly love your spouse. Self love in relationships is necessary in order to be happy in love. There are certain expectations in marriage that require your dedication and commitment, even when you feel you don’t have it to give. Your spouse won’t stop having needs, though … [Read more...]
How Would You Rate Your Marriage? Happy or Troubled?
I must admit one of my guilty pleasures is relationship-focused reality TV. I am hooked on Married at First Sight. It is such an interesting concept and yet an opportunity to learn so much about relationships. In a recent episode, the newlywed couples rated their marriages. Of course, there were hurt feelings and surprise reactions to the responses. But it is an interesting … [Read more...]
5 Easy Marriage-Care Tips Your Relationship Needs Now for a Happy Married Life
Self-Care has basically been the theme of 2020. We have needed to be more intentional and aware of our emotions than ever before. For married couples, however, we have also had to be mindful of our marriage-care. A happy married life doesn’t happen by coincidence; an investment is required. The following 5 easy marriage-care tips your relationship needs now will help you better … [Read more...]
Are You Unhappy in Marriage? How to Love Your Marriage When It’s Hard to Love Your Spouse
The first step to resolving any issue in a relationship is to admit that it exists in the first place. Though it might be difficult to admit you are unhappy in marriage, nothing changes if you aren’t willing to own that truth. Many couples have found themselves unhappy in marriage at some point in their relationship. And many couples have asked the question “is it time for a … [Read more...]
3 Reminders for How to Cope with Empty Nest Syndrome Now That Your Kids Have Gone to School
I like to think of the end of summer as a new beginning. Children go back to school and some leave home for the first time, creating an empty nest and the necessity to learn how to cope with empty nest syndrome. For those of you who have children leaving for college, you might be going through a wide array of emotions; I know I did when my oldest daughter went away to school. … [Read more...]