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Nov 24
Love0
woman hugging man and kissing him on the cheek in front of green cacti

You Can Be Both Grateful And…

By Resilience 8 Comments

I should be grateful.

Have you ever found yourself thinking these words on the heels of experiencing some negative emotions? Maybe you’re angry with your spouse or going through a tough time in general. You attempt to change your perspective and pull yourself out of your funk by focusing on gratitude instead. It’s a noble cause. After all, we talk about the positive effects of gratitude on this very blog.

The issue arises when we use an obligation to be grateful as a way to tamp down or invalidate other legitimate feelings. Here’s the deal: gratitude is not cancelled out by other emotions. You can be both grateful – and other things, too. Read More

Nov 17
Love0
Smiling woman jumping into man's arms in brightly lit doorway

How Gratitude Helps Fend Off Fights

By Conflict, Connection 10 Comments

When you think of the way you express and experience gratitude in your relationship, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s kind words, heartfelt gestures, or a loving smile or touch. These are momentary expressions of the sentiment, but the fact is, the influence of a grateful mindset has a way of echoing throughout your entire relationship in a positive way that promotes a sense of harmony. We’re not saying it will prevent you from ever fighting again (conflict can be healthy, after all) but it can help you avoid the unnecessary ones that do more damage than good. Not sure what we mean? Keep reading. Read More

Nov 10
Love0
Couple talking on the shore, woman's hand on man's back

How Money Disagreements Can Bring You Closer

By Conflict 8 Comments

Money can be one of those touchy subjects for couples. If it’s a topic you and your spouse struggle with, you might be able to attest to the fact that it can make you feel 1,000 miles apart. When you simply can’t understand each other’s perspective and don’t see eye to eye on basic tenets of managing your finances, getting aligned seems like a pipe dream. It doesn’t have to be this way! Let’s explore why money is such a tricky issue and how your differences can actually be an opportunity to grow closer. Read More

Nov 03
Love0
Couple sitting outside foreheads together holding hands

5 Times Your Spouse Needs Your Support The Most

By Relationship Basics 11 Comments

An important part of marriage is being there for each other. It’s one of the underpinnings of a strong relationship, but it’s also, well, rather vague. Your vows may have specified for richer or poorer or in sickness and health, but the truth is, often the times in which we need that extra support are not always so clearly defined. They might seem like ordinary, “just part of life” circumstances. That, combined with getting wrapped up in the hustle of our own daily life demands means it’s easy to miss out on opportunities to truly support our partner when they need it most. Here are five times to be aware of when your spouse might need extra support. Read More

Oct 27
Love0

You’re Teaching More Than Manners

By Parenting 4 Comments

As a kid, were you constantly being reminded by your parents to employ good manners? If you have children, chances are you’re trying to teach them manners as well. There’s a sense of intention around instilling the habit of saying please and thank you, excuse me, I’m sorry, and the like. Paradoxically, it’s often the things that we’re unintentionally teaching and modeling for our kids that they pick up on the most. (If you’ve ever let a curse word slip out around your little ones, you’ll know what we’re talking about.)

With that in mind, what are your children learning from the interactions between you and your spouse? As you model good manners with each other, what are the deeper lessons behind the words? Here are some examples. Read More

Oct 20
Love0
Couple putting dinner in the oven together

3 Common Role Challenges & How to Solve Them Together

By Conflict, Relationship Dynamics 16 Comments

When you think about the various roles you fill in life, what comes to mind? There are the familial roles (husband, wife, mother, father, etc.), roles related to your job or livelihood, maybe even important roles in your community. But what about roles within your relationship? When it comes to who’s responsible for which household chores, handles the finances, or wrangles the kids’ schedules, things are not always so clear cut. Because of this, it’s common to have conflicts or tension pop up. Here are three common role challenges and how you can solve them together. Read More

Oct 13
Love0
family gathering for a birthday party

The What, When, and How of Family Boundaries

By Family & Friends 10 Comments

Whether your relationship with your in-laws and your own family is usually pretty great or has its ups and downs, there are situations that test your family boundaries. If your families already struggle with boundary issues, certain circumstances may exacerbate them even more, putting additional strain on the relationships. If your boundaries are usually pretty healthy, you might still experience some tension as you navigate the situation at hand. Read More

Oct 06
Love0
Couple looking lovingly at each other

Break These Habits & Feel More Connected

By Connection 12 Comments

Do you have any habits that negatively effect your relationship? Maybe you have a tendency to leave your wet towel on the bed, while your spouse leaves all the drawers and cabinets hanging open. Sure, these habits might get on each other’s nerves, but in most cases they’re surface level offenses and not actually detrimental to the quality of your relationship.

What’s more concerning are habits that seem pretty innocuous in passing, but that sneakily steal away moments of connection. Done once or twice, here and there, they probably aren’t a big deal. But when they become your fallback, your relationship can take the brunt. Break these habits before they break your connection. Read More

Sep 29
Love0

We Just Disagree (And That’s Okay)

By Conflict 11 Comments

Do you and your spouse tend to agree on most things? If so, great! If not, that’s great too (and probably much more likely.) You might be thinking, “I wish we agreed more. We’re always bickering over trivial things!” But when you think about it, it’s better to disagree on the trivial things than on the big things. Going a step further, it’s more important to be aligned on the bigger mission or purpose than to agree on every idea or method for getting there. Wondering if this is all just semantics? Let’s explore further. Read More

Sep 22
Love0
woman working on laptop smiling as she watches husband and baby asleep on bed

Staying Optimistic During a Tough Season

By Resilience 2 Comments

What is a tough season? Well, that’s going to be different for everyone. It could be the years when your children are young and you aren’t feeling connected. It could be a period of time when you’re struggling financially or facing career uncertainty. It might be a phase in which roles feel out of balance or your family is going through a transition. While the circumstances are all unique, the common thread is that when you’re in the thick of it, it feels hard. It’s easy to get discouraged, and you might begin to question how you’re going to make it through. Here are some tips for staying optimistic during a tough season. Read More

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