Couples
Merriam-Webster defines empathy as: “The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.” It might seem like empathy is something that you do for…
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There are many reasons why you might be in a difficult relationship. Fear of being single, resistance to change, concern for the children involved, and other issues often keep unhappy couples together long after the love has gone. In fact, the average couple waits four years to end a dysfunctional relationship, according to one survey…
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Marriages require an effective balance of separateness and togetherness. The proper ratio varies from couple to couple. Too much time together can be as challenging as not enough. Divorce lawyers are reporting a huge increase in inquiries from unhappy people wanting a divorce. Luckily, there are steps anyone can take to decrease the odds of…
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A toxic relationship can suck the life right out of you. Some people have a long history of getting themselves into toxic relationships and staying far too long. What exactly is a toxic relationship? Here’s one explanation from the book Toxic People (1995) by Dr. Lillian Glass: “Any relationship between people who don’t support each…
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Contempt: it’s one of the most poisonous ways of communication that can ruin your relationship. It normally shows up as a result of unresolved anger that gets built up over time. “Contempt is the worst of the four horsemen. It is the number one predictor of divorce.” – Dr. John Gottman But what is contempt?…
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Finding your purpose, calling, or mission requires some soul searching. It may be something that seemed unrealistic, silly, or childish at one time. But, allow yourself to consider all things, without judging them as good/bad or right/wrong. For example, a love for dolls as a child may transfer to making or designing doll clothes as…
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Parenting is challenging and frustrating. It’s hard to know if you’re doing the right things and making wise choices that will benefit your children. It can sometimes feel like there’s no good answer for many of the parenting situations you find yourself in. In parenting, as in the rest of life, perfection isn’t a possibility.…
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Relationships are challenging. It’s not something we’re taught in school, and most of us have few, if any, good role models to emulate. Understanding the most common behaviors that damage relationships can be a good first step to having a relationship that lasts. See how many of these behaviors seem familiar, either in yourself or…
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There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the idea of a midlife crisis. Maybe it’s a myth. Maybe it comes in so many different variations that it’s hard to describe. Still, many adults go through a stage where they feel washed up or question the meaning of their lives. They may follow the old stereotype of buying…
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You know that feeling of excitement when you start dating someone new? It’s fun to feel the excitement when you open a new text message or butterflies in your stomach before you go on a date. At the same time, opening yourself to someone new puts you in a vulnerable position. When you start dating,…
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