They bring out the best in each other. Maybe you’ve said this about another couple or people have said it about you and your spouse. It’s a great compliment, but what does it mean, really? Is it something that only comes naturally or can you work on it? Does it fade over time? How do you know if you’re still doing it? While there’s no scientific formula for what it looks like, here are eight surefire signs that you and your spouse bring out the best in each other. Read More
It’s Friday afternoon. The weekend is just a few hours away. After another busy week, you can’t wait to relax with your family, get a few chores done, and possibly have some friends over for dinner one night. You text your spouse to see what you should pick up from the grocery store for said dinner, but you’re caught off guard by their response: “What dinner? We can’t have people over, we’re starting the downstairs bathroom remodel this weekend, remember?”
Uh-oh. You rack your brain trying to figure out how the wires got crossed. You swear you talked about having friends over…didn’t you? Plus, you weren’t planning on starting the bathroom for at least another few weeks. You sense an argument brewing… not a great way to start the weekend.
Can you relate to this scenario? Perhaps you know from firsthand experience that weekend fights can be a major bummer. So let’s explore four common weekend arguments – and how you can prevent them. Read More
How well do you know your partner? Probably pretty well. You know their tendencies and preferences that pop up on a daily basis. You have a good idea of their triggers and what gets them riled up in an argument. So here’s another question for you: When was the last time you learned something new about them?
When you’re first dating, it seems you’re constantly learning new things about each other, and you can’t get enough. You’re still getting to know all the different facets of one another, and you hear new stories and tidbits at every turn.
Flash forward to a point in time when you’ve been together for years. How often are you learning something new about each other now? While you and your spouse probably aren’t changing drastically on the daily, the fact is that you do grow and change as individuals over time. However, it’s often in ways that aren’t going to come up in your usual day-to-day conversations. So how do you keep up with these changes in each other? How do you keep learning new things about your spouse when you’ve been together for years? What if we challenged you to do just that? Sounds simple enough, right? Here are some tips to get you started: Read More
Have you ever made a lifestyle change? We often associate this term with health-related habits, like eating healthier, eliminating things like alcohol or tobacco, or being more physically active. But it can encompass a lot of other things, too. For example, maybe a big career change will have a significant impact on the pace of your day-to-day life. Perhaps one of you has decided to stay home with the kids, and that means dialing back on any extra spending. Maybe you’re moving from big city to a rural area, away from friends, family, and all the conveniences you’re used to.
While there are many different circumstances that could have fueled the change, chances are it wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. If you and your spouse are facing a similar situation together, it might feel daunting. In order for it to be sustainable, you’ll have to be on the same page and have each other’s full support. Here are five crucial things you’ll want to discuss: Read More
You don’t want to rock the boat. It’s probably not that big of a deal. Maybe you’re overreacting. You’ll bring it up another time.
It’s easy to come up with lots of reasons to avoid bringing up an issue with your spouse. Most people don’t want to start a fight or cause conflict when things seem to be rolling along smoothly. It’s understandable to want to keep the peace. But here’s the thing: avoiding dealing with issues in your marriage has a way of coming back to bite you later. Most problems don’t just go away on their own. So let’s explore four big reasons to stop avoiding the issue. Read More
There’s something to be said for being comfortable enough with your spouse that you don’t mind sitting in companionable silence. It doesn’t feel awkward. Neither of you feels obligated to fill the space. You’re content just being together.
On the flip side, your spouse is also the person with whom you talk to the most. You enjoy both serious and silly conversations about everything under the sun… or at least you used to. Lately, it seems like your exchanges have become more mundane than meaningful, more stale than stimulating. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Over time, as you settle into the routines and obligations of daily life, the quality of your conversations can take a hit. While this isn’t a problem on occasion, it can gradually have a negative effect on how connected you feel to each other. The good news is you can avoid this path! Let’s explore 8 tips to revitalize your conversations. Read More
Oh look, one of your favorite couples that you follow on social media just went on (another) amazing vacation. They look so happy! They must be doing something right. Scroll, scroll, scroll. Ah, and there’s an old classmate gushing for paragraphs about their spouse… Should I be doing that? Should my spouse be doing that? Hmm, when was the last time we went on a romantic vacation or gushed about each other like that? Is our marriage going stale? Are we doing something wrong?
The pervasiveness of social media and the rise of “influencers” (both individuals and couples) has created innumerable opportunities for comparison to take hold. Even when you know it’s an unhealthy habit to fall into, comparison can creep into your thinking – especially when you’re constantly bombarded with what other couples are sharing about their own lives and relationships. You might begin feeling like your own life and marriage isn’t what it should be. Or perhaps you’ve started having a sense that something is missing. These nagging feelings often start out small, but they can become a larger problem if you’re not careful.
To avoid getting stuck in a rut of comparison, keep these things in mind: Read More
When was the last time you made a wish list? Maybe you have to think all the way back to when you were a kid, dreaming about what you wanted for your birthday. Or perhaps you have a more recent memory of making a big purchase, like buying a house or finding the right car.
Wish lists are not only great for dreaming big, but also for helping you prioritize your wants and needs. And for that reason, they can actually be a big help in a variety of situations you’ll experience throughout your marriage as well. Curious to know more? Keep reading. Read More
Disappointment is pretty much a part of life. Maybe you’re disappointed in a movie you had high hopes for or in the way your homemade cheesecake turned out. You might feel displeased for a short period of time, but it’s nothing you’ll lose sleep over. Other times, disappointment can run deeper, such as when someone you love – like your spouse – lets you down in a way that feels significant and personal. In these situations, you may not get over it so quickly. So what should you do? Read More
In sickness and in health… Whether this common phrase was part of your wedding vows or not, if you’re like most couples, you didn’t spend too much time dwelling on the what-if’s that are implied. Instead you were focused on making a lifelong commitment and the general idea of sticking by each other through all of life’s ups and downs. And it’s understandable. One of the exciting parts of getting married is envisioning your future together – sharing dreams, setting goals, and seeing yourselves growing old together.
One major assumption that underlies all of the hopes and dreams you have for a long life together is that you’ll both be healthy enough to be there through it all. While there are plenty of scenarios that are out of your hands, one thing you do have some control over is whether healthy living is part of your marriage. Here are 4 ways to prioritize a healthy lifestyle together. Read More
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