Tag: talk

Why you should change yourself instead of your spouse?

Change is hard for a lot of people. When you look at your relationship, I am sure you can see a lot of things our spouse needs to change, but what about you? What do you need to change to have a healthier and more conscious relationship with your spouse?

One thing you may not realize is the only thing you have control over in a conversation is your 50 percent of it. What are you bringing to the discussion? How are you behaving or reacting to things? How are these things impacting the relationship with your spouse?

You know how there is always that person who can’t wait to bring you down, burst your bubble and tell you how bad things are? Well, sometimes that person is you. Those voices in your head that say you aren’t good enough, life stinks and things will never change. They roll around and around and steal your happiness and your contentment. They urge you to do things that you might regret, and they remind you all of the time how you just aren’t good enough.

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Finding ways to manage and reduce relationship stress in your life is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your relationship.

Stress in a relationship can cause a type of feedback loop. If I’m stressed, it makes Katie, my wife, stressed. If Katie is getting stressed, then it makes me even more stressed. And further down the hole we go.

Although your marriage can be a source of stress in your life, which is totally normal, it is also the best tool you have to reduce stress.

As children leave toddlerhood and enter the realm of childhood, around 4 years of age, it would appear their curiosity kicks into overdrive. Cue the never-ending questions of “why?” and, if you're lucky, the reprieve of “how come?” They will become so curious, in fact, answering their rapid-fire line of questioning will become second nature. We're talking answers while washing the shampoo from their hair, while driving, between bites at the dinner table and even mid tooth brushing.

The romance doesn’t drain out of a marriage overnight. It’s a slow trickle over time.

Counselors will tell you that the leaks in a marriage or love relationship are a hazard of daily life. Careers, children, bills and a variety of daily responsibilities add to the problem, one drip at a time.

Don’t fret… because there is still hope. Men who haven’t given as much attention to the relationship as they should can reignite the romance through simple and inexpensive actions.

Toddlers can be challenging, but understanding why they act and react as they do can make the daily interactions with one far more pleasant and productive. Here are five tips to a happier and healthier toddler.

How Should I Talk to My Toddler?
It’s important for you and your spouse to talk to your toddler in an adult manner. Toddlers are much smarter than we used to think. They learn at a tremendous rate. Thus, put feelings into words, and label your own and their feelings with words. Listen and talk! And keep the decibels down... don't start raising your voice.

When we're in love, we typically want to do and share everything with our partner. But is it a smart decision to make? In my work with couples over the years, I've seen how financial conflict can destroy even the best marriages. There are better times than others to make this leap with your partner.

Once you have an idea that your relationship is ready to handle "money talk," that's the time to begin talking about finances. You married this person for a reason—because you were compatible. Part of being compatible is having similar financial philosophies and goals. Even if you have differences, just knowing and understanding your spouse's financial attitudes and behaviors is essential if you want to have an honest, open relationship.