Have things been distant between you and your spouse for some time? Have you felt unhappy or stuck in the relationship? Are you finally ready to reach out to a professional rather than continue to stick your head in the sand, hoping things will magically improve? Are you ready to take that step BUT the […]
Most people are good at complaining and making negative comments about the things they aren’t happy with. It’s so easy to nag, pressure, nitpick and criticize. The critical comments roll off our tongues so easily. We often make them without giving them a second thought. Think about it – how many times have you voiced […]
You’re online or in a store shopping for a present for your partner and you don’t have a clue what would make a good gift. Maybe you don’t know what he or she wants. Maybe one of you is out of work or you are feeling the recession in some other way. Maybe there’s a […]
Your boss asks – or rather pressures – you to work this weekend. A deadline is quickly approaching and your contribution is crucial. But, you already had plans with your family. You feel stuck choosing between your job and your family. Your parents or in-laws seem to make plans for you most weekends. It’s either […]
We think we should be strong enough to survive alone. Regarding marriage, we think that if we are betrayed by an unfaithful partner, we should leave. Well-meaning friends tend to tell the spouse who was betrayed, “You should leave the bastard!” as if that’s the right, and only, response. But, leaving immediately is a poor […]
The common (and incorrect) assumption about relationships is that if we just find the right person, then we’ll always be close. We start in Romantic Love where we can’t get enough of each other. During this early stage of love, we are each other’s most passionate supporter and in sync sexually. Most people believe that […]
You said, “Next year I’m going to do things differently. Next year is the year I’ll finally stop doing ____ or start doing _____”. You start out with a firm resolve to make the changes last. But will they last? Many people begin the year strong and then eventually fall back into old patterns. It’s […]
Most people are good at complaining and making negative comments about the things they aren’t happy with. It’s so easy to nag, pressure, nitpick and criticize. The critical comments roll off our tongues so easily; we often make them without giving them a second thought. Think about it – how many times have you voiced […]
Every once in awhile, something unprecedented happens and we suddenly find ourselves out of our normal routine and dealing with either minor inconveniences or extreme difficulties caused by circumstances beyond our control. Let’s think about the impact of a natural disaster such as a superstorm. During the aftermath of a storm, lives are disrupted. Most normal […]
When you’re upset, do you tend to pull yourself inside or express yourself outwardly? Do you clam up? This is the Avoider Style of reacting. Do you persist in talking about the issue? This is the Pursuer Style of reacting. Which is your ‘go to’ reaction? And, could your reactions be making things worse? What […]
