One of the main reasons we get married is the way the other person makes us feel. When someone makes you feel good, you want that person to stick around, right? But as the relationship grows, it becomes deeper than that. It’s not just about how good the person makes you feel, but how well the two of you are together. Marriage unites people on a deeper level than feeling alone. … [Read more...]
Marriage on the Rocks? Here are 5 Reasons Professional Counseling Works and 5 Reasons it Fails
Before getting married, my husband and I went through a pre-marital counseling of sorts. With another couple, we sat and discussed our desires, expectations, and understanding of this lifelong commitment. The idea was to prepare us for as many potential pitfalls as possible. Through a spiritual lens, this couple aimed to teach us how to navigate some of the murky waters we may … [Read more...]
What is Marriage Therapy Really Like? And Will Counseling Work for Us?
Dear Dr. Buckingham, My husband and I discussed the possibility of starting marriage therapy after reading several of your articles. We are excited about the possibility, but do not know what to expect. We have been married for 15 years now, but I do not feel that I know my husband well. In fact, I am not sure if I know myself well. We argue over little things and are … [Read more...]
4 Questions to Consider Before You Quit on Your Marriage
If you’ve ever wondered what your life would be like if you didn’t marry your spouse, you’ve probably faced some tough times in your marriage. Sometimes, those rough patches are related to major issues like infidelity, but not always. Sometimes, it can just be a compilation of unresolved issues that have taken place over the years. Whatever the case, thinking about being … [Read more...]
On the Brink: 3 Undeniable Signs You’re in Desperate Need of Marriage Counseling
Marriage can be one of the greatest joys of your life. When done well, coming home each day brings a smile to your face. That being said, most married folks hit upon rocky times, a point where you don’t see eye to eye and getting along is a challenge. It’s normal to have disagreements. It’s not normal to stay there, in a place of discontent with one another. If the three … [Read more...]
3 Signs You are Fed-up with Your Spouse and They are Fed-Up with You Too
There are times in our marriages where we have problems, but we struggle with finding a resolution. I have found in some of those situations, it’s because there are some deeper issues individually. When we see these recurring issues, both partners have to take accountability and look for signs that one of the partners needs further help. This is not about pointing fingers, … [Read more...]
3 Actions You Must Take Before Giving Up on Your Marriage
Most of the articles I write on the topic of marriage deal with cultivation, nurturing, and protection of the relationship. Indeed, especially with marriage, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Generally, good maintenance of your relationship is going to produce a healthy relationship with long lasting results. Unfortunately, some relationships are beyond the … [Read more...]
Men: At Last, the One Simple Thing that Women Really Want
Listening to music today is totally different from years ago. Romance has been replaced with role reversal, explicit sex, and stories of unhealthy relationships. Somewhere between the promiscuity and the perceived lack of good men, relationships have gone astray. Both sexes are complaining about the other and it appears that more division, than unity is taking place. In the … [Read more...]
When You Can’t Do it Alone: 5 Signs that It’s Time to Get Outside Help for Your Troubled Marriage
Love is tricky and while sometimes it may feel as though we have a good handle on it, unfortunately, oftentimes, we don't. One of the hardest things for most couples to do is recognize that the healing needed in their marriage is something they can't do alone. This is obvious and also the reason there are so many relationship resources and professionals. Relationship … [Read more...]
FREE 3-Part Video Series from BMWK: Transform Your Marriage!
Hey BMWK family! We're really close to wrapping up our long-awaited BMWK Relationship Academy for singles and couples. We will finally be releasing that next week. But before we do, we have something very special for you as our way of saying THANK YOU for supporting this movement. Tomorrow (Wednesday October 8th) my wife Ronnie and I are launching a totally FREE 3-part video … [Read more...]
7 Issues Couples Should Share During Counseling
Making the decision to seek outside coaching or counseling to improve a relationship isn’t easy. It actually requires a great deal of courage to admit something is broken and take action. Honesty is a key ingredient in a healthy marriage, but it’s also very necessary in healing a damaged partnership. The counseling that works the best usually comes as a result of both partners … [Read more...]
Should Your Relationship Professional Be in a Relationship?
Should your relationship professional be in a relationship? Probably. But the real answer is it's up to each couple. Couples have a variety of options as it relates to selecting a resource or professional to help cultivate their relationship. From books, blogs, and relationship experts, it is a couple’s choice who or what they allow to shape/reshape the partnership. It’s not … [Read more...]
5 Ways Preventative Marriage Counseling Can Help Your Marriage
Should you seek marriage counseling when things are "good" in your marriage? I mean, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? I'm not so sure. Just like there are no perfect people, there are no perfect marriages. Unfortunately, many couples come to this realization too late. Marriage counseling. Those words scream, "major problems," a "bad marriage," or "the brink of … [Read more...]
10 Reasons You Need to GET OUT of a Bad Marriage
I know what you are probably thinking: “Ronnie, you and Lamar have made it your mission to support relationships and marriage. And, relationships are not perfect, they have their ups and their downs…their ebbs and flows. So why in the world would you tell someone to get out?” And here is what I say to that: Lamar and I want everyone to be empowered with the right tools that … [Read more...]
Things to Do When You’re Thinking about Ending Your Marriage
If you’ve found yourself straddling the fence and it feels like your only two options are to stay in an unsatisfying relationship or get divorced, it’s a tough place to be. It’s also a critical time where your immediate actions can make a big difference to the outcome of your marriage. Hopefully, the third option is to improve your marriage and enjoy your relationship once … [Read more...]