Even the best relationships have room for improvement.
Strengthening the foundation of your relationship with your partner during the good times will help you get through the rough times with love, kindness, and compassion.
Aim to Please: How to Talk to Each Other About Sex and Satisfaction
Discussing sex with your partner should be a great experience. At the beginning of a relationship, it usually is.
People are always changing, though. Which means your desires and needs will change, too.
The longer you’re in a relationship the more likely there is a need to talk to each other about sex. Though for many, this can be an awkward moment. Sort of like walking on egg-shells.
While you certainly want to communicate your sexual needs, you may also want to avoid insulting your partner on their sexual prowess. It’s a delicate balance.
Despite the sensitive topic, following a few guidelines will help you to have a healthy conversation.
When You Both Feel Misunderstood - 5 Tips For Clear Communication
A conversation with your partner begins innocently enough, but clear communication can get muddy in hurry.
Sound familiar?
You know how it goes: you are having a perfectly nice discussion, but a facial expression suddenly sours, open body language shifts to being closed off, or a phrase or tone of voice doesn’t sit right. Your sunny dispositions may cloud over as a simple discussion turns into a disagreement.
Healthy Relationships: When Is It Time to See a Couples Therapist?
Every couple can benefit from the nonjudgmental assistance of a couples therapist.
Transition periods in a relationship may be especially difficult for couples to manage on their own.
Changes are exciting. Moving in together, getting married, and starting a family are fun experiences. Changes like this are also very stressful.
Transitions trigger our fears. They show us our differences. Things that neither of you knew were an issue can arise and provoke problems.
A couples therapist can help you navigate the transitions with ease.
Counseling is beneficial before big changes occur. Continuing through transitions will help to navigate difficult times.
Marriage and Friendship: 4 Keys to Knowing Each Other Intimately
The one person that you should know best in life is your spouse. In fact, research shows that knowing your partner well and maintaining a deep and trusting friendship, is foundational to your relationship happiness. Marriage and friendship are closely linked.
Your spouse is your life-partner and the friend whom you can turn to at the times you need them the most.
5 Affirmations Happy Couples Give Each Other Often
Each of us, through no fault of our own, get some very unproductive messages about relationships. Movies, books, and social media often present us with the image of what a relationship should be. This can result in big problems when real life doesn’t follow the fairytale script.
There is a very basic, yet powerful way to counter the “true love hype” in this age of social media, memes, and smartphones. What is it?
Affirmations!
Relationship Recess: Why Playing Together Promotes Staying Together
For most kids, playing together at recess is the best part of the school day.
They can let down their guard, give their brain a break, and allow their muscles to work out pent-up tension.
As an adult, you don’t have recess like you did when you were a kid. But you can still steal away from life to enjoy a little playtime. Especially with your partner.
In fact, making “recess” a part of your relationship routine can actually strengthen your bond.
Fight Fairly: Do You Know How to Do It? Take These Steps
Some couples seem to have continual conflict while others want to avoid it at all costs. Other couples fall somewhere in the middle of the conflict spectrum.
While intimidating and uncomfortable, conflict is an inevitable part of any healthy relationship. The key is to fight fairly when you and your partner have conflict.
Take these steps to fight fairly and have more productive arguments.
How Healthy Boundaries Provide Just the Right Amount of Distance to Connect You
Navigating close relationships can be tricky.
Especially close relationships with family members. Often, you come together for winter holidays, graduations, baby showers or other milestones. And all you want is to gather for some low-conflict, person-to-person bonding. One big happy family. But before long, you may find that your family experiences what many others do.
Always Ranting and Reacting? How to Ensure More Effective Communication in Your Relationships
While effective communication may come easily for some, it is far more difficult for others.
What about you?
Does it seem that communicating with others is increasingly difficult and disrespectful? Do your disagreements feel less like interacting and more like overreacting? Are your rants making their way into your everyday conversations more and more?
You’re not alone. Communication can be tough for many of us, especially when our emotions take over.
What gets in the way?