The 2019 Thanksgiving festivities are over! You've had all the turkey, stuffing, and sweet potato pie you can handle. Yet, in about a month, you'll eat yourself into a coma once again during Christmas. No matter how hard we try, the holidays are a tough time to maintain a level of physical health we can be proud of. But while eating healthy might be tough, having a healthy … [Read more...]
The Cheater’s Guide to a Lifetime of Faithfulness
If you were raised in a similar environment to me, I bet you know this two sayings, “What is done in the dark will always come to light.” Sound familiar? It's all too familiar to me as God worked it out alright. Now, I know the headline, "A Cheater's Guide to a Lifetime of Faithfulness," might throw you off. But another saying, “God works in mysterious ways,” might help you … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Why Focusing on Your Health Can Improve Your Marriage
I firmly believe in the power of taking a holistic approach to living a happier life. I think if one area of your life is way out of balance, it inevitably impacts the other areas of your life in ways you wouldn’t even imagine. That said, your health is probably the area of your life that impacts everything else the most. From your ability to be successful in business, to … [Read more...]
These 4 ‘Selfish’ Acts Healed My Marriage and They Can Heal Yours Too
I don’t think there’s anything that can prepare you for marriage, and, as hard as it’s been for my husband and me to navigate, it’s also been the absolute best thing for me as a woman. My husband and I have been married for just over ten years now, and, just like any other marriage, it’s had its ups and downs. But about five years into our marriage, a light bulb went off in … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Why You Need to Stop Keeping Score in Your Marriage
Do you keep score? You know, keep track of all the awesome things you do in your relationship and all the things your spouse doesn’t do. It’s okay. I am not judging. No one wants to admit it, but keeping score is pretty common. The best of us do it. When you feel like you are the one always doing something, like feeding the dog or cooking dinner, you can start keeping score … [Read more...]
This Is How You Can Have a Wealthy Marriage…Even If You’re Dead Broke
Now, don't let the title fool you. I'm not talking financially, but more so in terms of love, peace, commitment, and connection. Is your marriage rich with these things? Wealthy, of course, means having a great deal of money, resources, or assets - rich. Marriage should be rich with energy and effort in addition to what is listed above. Wealth is also measured differently … [Read more...]
Have You Set Goals for Your Role as a Spouse? These 20 Questions Get You Started
We typically enter into our marriages with quite a few ideas, hopes and dreams. We have expectations of our spouse, just as they do of us. We want them to complete us and make us happy. While we have our eyes fixed on what they are going to do for us, we rarely consider what we should be doing for them. Usually our spouse has similar needs. Are you thinking of how to … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Why Marriage Is Worth the Hard Work
Time and time again we hear about how marriage is hard work. That said, we aren’t always faced with a message that has us running to the altar to marry someone. And, indeed, the truth is that marriage is hard work; I just can’t lie to you about that one. However, with the work that goes into it come incredible benefits. If you don’t believe me, you really have to shift your … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Why Trying to Change Your Spouse Will Bring Resentment Before Acceptance
Even though most of us know how hard it is to change anyone, including ourselves, we often enter into relationships with expectations that are not in alignment with who our mate is. Despite the love and affection we may have for the person we married, we sometimes think that maybe—just maybe—the love we have for them will magically change some quality we don’t care for. But … [Read more...]
4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Hide Your Marriage Imperfections
I have often wondered if married couples offered a false representation of marriage to others. Especially those who put on a front as though they have the perfect marriage, if they don’t. We all know that’s impossible because there aren’t any perfect people. There are marriages that are healthier than others, for sure. But even those relationships have had to endure a … [Read more...]
4 Couples Rituals Happy Couples Use to Stay Spicy
Relationships are always changing and growing as each person grows and shifts into their purpose. Staying connected with rituals is worth investing in to maintain healthy relationships. Without rituals it is easy to feel distant or separate from our partner. Here are few rituals that have helped my clients reconnect and spice up their relationships. 1. List the Good - Each … [Read more...]
How to Apologize to Your Spouse
Why is offering an apology so difficult? Most people take it and turn it into something ugly. An apology, to some, means our spouse now has something to use against us. We somehow feel it gives our partner the power in the relationship. What we think they’ll do with the power is still unknown. This, of course, explains why people are so stingy with apologies. In reality, … [Read more...]
What Does Your Marriage Say about You?
If our children’s behavior is typically a direct reflection of our parenting skills, what is our marriage saying about our skills as a spouse? As parents we get blamed when our children throw tantrums, are disrespectful and act out in public. If you’ve ever seen that nasty side-eye some folks give to parents who have no control over their children, you know what I mean. In … [Read more...]
3 Personal Beliefs that Could Be Harming Your Marriage
Did you know your personal values, ideals and goals significantly contribute to the behaviors you display in your relationship? Unfortunately not all of them are suitable for a marriage. We aren’t usually intentional or even mindful of the language, emotions and actions we use daily or where they originate. As one would assume, who we are, as an adult. is the aftereffect of how … [Read more...]
7 Questions to Answer Before You Celebrate Your Next Wedding Anniversary
This August my husband and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage. We’ve experienced ups and downs, similar to most other couples. But despite the challenges, our marriage is stronger than it has ever been. This is in part to a few things. Individually we’re improving. We’ve matured as a couple. The things we thought were such a big deal in the beginning aren’t worth … [Read more...]