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Love: It’s one of the few things in life that can create intense pleasure or intense pain in our lives. It’s the one force that has the power to put you on top of the clouds or in a deep, dark hole. Yet, no matter how much experience we gain in love, it seems like […]

Have you ever started or stoked a fire? If so, you know that you have to use kindling. You also know that the smallest spark can eventually become a roaring blaze. Once the fire has reached its full potential, you maintain it and it stays strong – or you neglect it and it dies out. […]

Pointless arguing in a relationship: Many people do it but most of us don’t understand it and are perplexed by it. Everyone knows a couple who constantly bickers or has conflict – maybe that’s even you and your partner. Maybe you argue so frequently that it’s become the norm. Is this really what to expect […]

It’s not what you say, but how you say it. Tone of voice often means much more than what you say In his book, The Relationship Cure, Dr. Gottman reveals that when it comes to assessing the meaning of communication in relationships, only 7% of that meaning comes from the spoken word, while 38% comes […]

“Long distance never works.” “The seven-year itch is real.” “Children always kill romance.” “You can’t have love and a successful career. You have to choose.” Chances are you’ve heard at least one of these statements, or a variation on the theme, from someone you know. One of the most common myths about long-term relationships is […]

We’ve figured out how to control most things in our lives – our bodies, our weight, our work. But relationships? That’s something different altogether. We can’t control someone else’s heart, and because of that, there’s always a certain amount of uncertainty in relationships. Sadly, it is this uncertainty that causes many of us to put […]

How do you and your partner fare when stress enters the relationship? Does stress become a source of conflict and contention? Do you tend to fight more? Do you tend to withdraw from one another and feel more disconnected, frustrated, sad or angry? Or does the stress become an opportunity for you and your partner […]

What makes a relationship truly extraordinary? Is it the way you communicate with your partner? Does setting relationship rules for couples help long term? And what weakens, or even destroys, a relationship? It all comes down to a few relationship rules for couples. We all create rules – those things we believe have to happen […]

We tend to think that the way we view the world is the way the world really is. And when our partners disagree with us, it’s easy to think that they are the ones who are misinformed or have a distorted perception of reality. How else could they see things so differently? The truth is […]

How does your relationship normally function? Most likely, you and your partner get along and are able to thrive together. But what happens when something goes wrong, and one or both of you begin to feel stressed out? How does stress affect relationships, and what can you do to strengthen your partnership against life’s inevitable […]

Everyone has experienced consequences in their lives – time outs as a child, being passed over at work, higher insurance premiums after a car accident. But there is one place punishment never belongs: in your relationship. Identifying punishing behavior in a relationship is more important than ever in our disconnected and socially isolated world. We […]

What makes a life a good life? Some might say reaching the top of the corporate ladder. Others might say living in their dream city or owning a home. But creating an extraordinary life isn’t about working long hours or making a lot of money – it’s about personal relationships. As Tony says, “The quality […]