When you’re married to a partner who finds it difficult to open up and communicate with you, you have to get creative. Verbally expressing what you’re feeling, what you need, and what matters most to you, doesn’t come naturally for everyone. So, while you can’t force your spouse to open up and talk to you about anything, you can encourage them by introducing activities and a … [Read more...]
5 Lessons Learned from Malcolm & Marie
The Netflix movie, Malcolm & Marie, surely gave us all a lot to talk about. Though the film was cinematically beautiful and the acting was stellar, it highlighted so many of the toxic relationship habits that typically destroy a couple. This drama also left us contemplating, what love should really look and feel like? There are quite a few relationship lessons in Malcolm … [Read more...]
How to Deal With a Jealous Spouse
There are some emotions that show up in a marriage that can be detrimental; jealousy is one of them. Couples must take notice of the signs of unhealthy jealousy and prepare to address them immediately, as well as be mindful of how it shows up and impacts a marriage. How to Deal With a Jealous Spouse Jealousy has several definitions. The first is feeling or showing envy … [Read more...]
How to Rebuild Trust After Infidelity
In my years of coaching couples through everything imaginable, I know there is life after infidelity. Hurt can be healed, forgiveness can be given, hearts can be mended, and yes trust can absolutely be earned again. Couples who have survived infidelity know that there is healing after being cheated on. How to Rebuild Trust After Infidelity In This Article: Accept … [Read more...]
How To Know Whether You Should Stay or Go After Infidelity
Anyone who has previously dealt with infidelity had to make a difficult decision. When your spouse is unfaithful, it can feel like the ultimate betrayal and seem impossible to overcome. If you are wondering how to know whether you should stay or go after infidelity, there is hope and you don’t have to make such a weighty decision alone. Staying together after infidelity and … [Read more...]
Why You and Your Spouse Should Desire a 1st Corinthians Type of Marriage
Have you and your spouse ever thought about what you wanted for your marriage? More specifically, what love should look like and feel like in your relationship? Sometimes couples don’t really take the time to break down love and the actions involved that demonstrates it best. It is sometimes forgotten that love is a verb and is displayed through actions and not simply words. … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Encourage Your Spouse in Their Spiritual Walk
I remember when I first found a new church home many years ago, one I wanted my family to join. I would attend alone for several weeks before my husband chose to attend with me and later also join. Though I asked, in the beginning, every week for him to join me, I ultimately let him make the decision when he was ready. We became active members and leaders in that church and … [Read more...]
Singles, Have You Settled Just Because We’ve Been in a Pandemic?
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...]