We all know the frustration of hitting a barrier, a roadblock while traveling. It prevents progress. It usually means a stop in traffic that can extend for miles. In conversations, it's not uncommon for barriers to arise when opinions and worldviews clash. We are human, and because of it, we have an innate need to protect and affirm our beliefs and opinions. Many times this can result in defensive behaviors and uneasy situations. Today we explore communication barriers.
Read MoreEffective communication costs very little and the results can transform both you and your relationships. Communication is at the top of the list of what couples feel they need.
In today’s post, I am going to share the worst communication mistakes behind some of the biggest problems couples encounter. By learning to avoid them, you will save time and emotional negativity, your connection will increase, and you will have better intimacy too.
Read MoreMany times we talk about our desire to change. As the last month of the year progresses, we start taking inventory and thinking about what we need to change in the new year. We go back and forth between wanting to change and dreading the idea of change. You know deep down there are some things you really need to change, but how do you get ready to change? How can you get to that transformation that will signal you have really changed? It's really a lot easier to focus on what your partner needs to change!
Today's blog focuses on how to get ready for change.
Read MoreDo you smile or shudder when you think of the Christmas and New Year celebrations? Many people fear office, family, or friends gatherings because of past unpleasant experiences. It’s as if they prime their brain for “feel bad” vibes.
What if you tried something different this year? What if you decided to use your brain’s “feel good” power to add magic to the celebrations? Here’s a “brain recipe” for a Merry Christmas.
Read MoreWe are starting the last month of the year. As the year starts unwinding to its end, we tend to become more contemplative of our life and work. We take inventory. We weigh opportunities. We think about change. . . Unfortunately, after many years of doing the same, making new resolutions for the new year, and failing at them, many give up on change and on themselves. If you are like them, you think about change, but have come to HATE change. . . or your failure with change.
Read MoreEvery contact you have with your loved one is loaded with possibilities. Each one can build or break a relationship. People tend to underestimate how even a brief interaction can change how people think about themselves, their relationship, and their future. There are two simple words that are so powerful it amazes me they are not used more often. The two words are “Thank You.” I want to challenge you to use them more frequently, especially as we are getting close to the end of the year.
Read MoreHow much do you think a smile would cost? What value would you assign to a smile given to you? How would you calculate the residual effect of seeing a smile, or giving a smile? What if your life depended on smiling? How can smiling make your relationship happier?
Read MoreStop squandering the precious seconds of your life in worrying about the future and ruminating about what's past. Instead, savor each moment to the fullest.
Read MoreOne of the recurrent issues couples complain about is diminishing intimacy. And by that, they usually mean less time, frequency, and satisfaction with their sexual life. Today I want to give you a few ideas for rekindling your intimacy.
Read MorePatrick Henry, was one of the leading lights of the American Revolution. He was also one of the leaders of the movement to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution. Discover on this blog wha do his ideas have to do with your freedom-centered relationship.
Read MoreYou can’t force your relationship to be better or change the other person. But, there are things you can do which can help your relationship improve and stay healthy. Here are 7 simple ideas that can be helpful. Hopefully, these will spark your creativity and you can add many more to enjoy over the Summer months.
Read MoreIt's easy to be happy when things are going your way. But what to do when they are not? Is it ok to mope, make a tantrum, say hurtful things, or stop talking for a week?
Of course not!! You are not a 2-year-old who can’t control emotions and can’t deal with limits or not having his way. What to do then? Keep reading to find out.
Read MoreBeing a mom has been, and continues to be, one of the greatest joys of my life. I’ve experienced many highs, suffered through some lows, doubted myself, learned much, and have been stretched to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first started this journey some 40+ years ago.
As I reflect this mother’s day on the lessons that have taught me to be a better mother, I realize that many of the same principles apply to your love relationship. Here are 7 lessons I’ve learned from being a mom.
Read MoreWe have the ability to communicate our thoughts in real time. We don’t need to plan what we’re going to say beforehand. That is great when we are brainstorming, or when there is an emergency and we need to issue a warning. It can be a problem when what we say on the spur of the moment is something we later wish we had either not said, or said differently.
Read MoreLet me guess: You want to lose weight in 2022 or just eat healthier. Perhaps you want to spend less money or spend more time with your friends and family. Maybe you want to stop screaming and have a closer relationship with your partner instead. Whatever it is, Self-improvement, or at least the desire for it, is a shared American hobby.
Estimates say more than 40% of Americans make New Year's resolutions. But for all the good intentions, only a tiny fraction keep their resolutions. University of Scranton research suggests that just 8% of people achieve their New Year's goals.
You can be included in that 8%. This blogs explains how.
Read MoreDo you remember what was the greatest gift you ever got? Dr. Ada tells about her greatest gift and shares a poem about the BEST gift ever!.
Read MoreNice words, ugly words, kind words, curse words, thankful words, sad words, positive words, negative words. . . What kind of words you use, said with what tone of voice, at what time, and how many of them. . . it all matters in bringing joy of misery.
Whether the environment of your home is joyful and uplifting or negative and miserable depends, in great measure, on the words you use. Which ones will you use more this month?
Read MoreJust how much does technology interfere with your relationship? Today’s smartphones enable you to constantly be in contact with everyone, with the office, and access the Internet or the cloud for needed information on the fly. That's good, right?
"It depends" is the answer.
This blog post covers how devices can be harmful not only to your relationships but also to your health. Then I will offer some tips on how to use your smartphone to your advantage, instead of to your detriment.
Read MoreI usually encourage couples to find ways to apply into their relationship something positive from their daily activities. With Halloween around the corner it makes sense to think about what relationship lessons can be gained from Halloween. Here are a few I came up with. See if you can find others and share them with us.
Read MoreWe tend to make gratitude and joy conditional events, attaching the word “when” to feelings of thankfulness and joy. “When everything in life comes together the way we want it to,” we rationalize, “then we’ll be grateful and joyful.” Yet, the surest way to joy is through gratitude. Learn why it's important to express gratitude to your partner.
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