Recently, I went to Seattle to support couples experiencing the Art and Science of Love weekend long workshop. Here are 7 relationship boosting takeaways from the event.
Heading into this New Year, into this new decade, can mean a time where we believe in hope for change. Perhaps this is a change among different aspects of our lives, such as our careers, our relationships, or our health.
Many people are aware of the tired old stereotype about men that claim, “Real men are expected to ignore their emotions or pretend that they don’t exist.” Throughout my life, my professional life, in particular, I have noticed that it isn’t socially acceptable for some men to feel anything other than anger. Many are conditioned to simply feel nothing at all.
Parenting is a challenging job; the transition to becoming a parent means lots of changes which brings with it lots of stress. The couple will have to learn how to create a new identity. Everything in your family life changes, including roles within the couple, daily activities, expression of intimacy and financial difficulties.
It is impossible to have a relationship in which there is never need for an apology. Being in relationships with others means risking the possibility that we will be hurt or disappointed AND that we will hurt and disappoint others. Most of the time, the pain we cause is not intentional.
People pleasing or “passivity” can be a useful strategy now and then. As I have mentioned before, people pleasing has its merits. However, if it’s the only way you approach life it will become problematic.
These are the ways that adults perceive and respond to intimacy in romantic relationships. Our attachment type is initially determined by our upbringing and can be altered later in life by our relationship experiences. Each type determines our attitudes towards sex, views on intimacy, expectations of partners, and the way we handle conflict.
Have you ever been in a relationship that seems to be stuck in an endless loop of repetitive arguments? Does it feel futile to even try to talk it out?
Are you in a relationship where small issues seem to escalate quickly? You're not alone. It's a common challenge for couples to bring up an issue in a way that is productive.
The anxiety you feel when you are on the verge of success, have met a goal, or are experiencing something wonderful in your life. This is the anxiety you experience when life is good - you’ve kissed success, you have what you want, life is easy.
Learning to listen is a skill. It’s different than “hearing”. Usually, when we are in conflict with another person we are listening to respond instead of listening to understand.
Asserting yourself means expressing yourself in a way that expresses your confidence, power, and earning respect. It’s expressing your opinions, needs, and feelings without hurting or ignoring the opinions, feelings, or needs of others.
Personal narratives are powerful. They are developed through a mixture of experiences & personality and they create the lens through which we see the world.