Happy 2020, readers! Not only are we entering a new year, but we are entering a new decade. Reflect for a moment and envision what you want this next chapter of your life to look like. If you’ve struggled with finding your voice and confidently speaking your mind in the past, you may be looking to become more assertive. “But wait,” you say, “What if I don’t have a very dominant or aggressive personality?” No problem! The word “assertive” gets a bad rep because it often gets mixed up with the above terms, but the truth is, you don’t need […]
Holidays Can Work with an Interfaith Couple The holidays are a wonderful time of celebration, giving, and spending time with family. However, for some they’re also a time of great stress; especially when you don’t see eye-to-eye with your and you practice a different set of beliefs all together. Being an interfaith couple already presents challenges, but it’s even tougher this time of year. I have personally navigated the tricky waters of an interfaith relationship: I am a Catholic-Christian and my husband is Buddhist. Although we celebrate different sets of holidays and traditions, we respect each other’s beliefs and are […]
Now that the holidays are in full swing, everyone is definitely feeling a little more festive, merrier, and happier. Let’s be honest, it’s a LOT easier to show gratitude and appreciation during this time of year, right? (It’s OK – a lot of people feel the same way!) What I want to talk to you about in today’s blog is how to carry on that warm, appreciative state of mind within your marriage for the other remaining 10 months of the year. Fight getting lost in life’s daily routine by actively choosing to express gratitude for your spouse. Take the […]
Back to School… Pursuing higher education is stressful, but sometimes, it’s a plunge you just have to take – whether it’s to finish something you started years ago and finally get that degree, or as a means to break through a salary ceiling and provide stability and a more comfortable lifestyle for your family. It Will be Stressful, but Do-Able As good as the intentions may be, going back to school after getting married can certainly bump up the stress level. Maybe this has been an ongoing discussion for awhile, but when you or your spouse finally decides that now […]
Is the Honeymoon Period a Real Thing? The biggest early obstacle to any relationship is one that few ever see coming: the dreaded end of the Honeymoon Period. The initial magic starts to fade, the rush you got when your partner entered the room disappears, and everything just seems less exciting. When you’re caught up in a brand-new relationship, it’s hard to imagine that this could ever happen. However, it’s inevitable because a constant state of excitement is not sustainable, and as the saying goes: “What goes up must eventually come down.” Unfortunately, this still takes people by surprise, causing […]
One big factor that drives couples to seek counseling is the disappointment they feel in how their relationship has developed over the years. They enter the relationship with certain expectations and goals in mind. As they find themselves drifting farther away from what they believed the relationship would be like, a sense of frustration arises. One of the first conversations I have with these types of couples involves exploring the expectations that they brought to the relationship. Interestingly, what I often find is that many of their expectations are unrealistic. These expectations usually stem from outdated advice given by parents, […]
“I feel so disconnected from my partner.” “We have different lives, like passing ships.” “It’s like we’re not even married anymore; we’re just roommates.” I hear these difficult words all too frequently in my work with couples. It is heart-breaking to realize the distance that has grown in your relationship after going through so much together. How do you come back from that? I always recommend taking a step back and going back to dating each other. Remember when you were dating and willing to do almost anything your significant other suggested because you wanted to spend time with them? […]
Marriage is a challenging journey all on its own. When you add long-distance into the mix, you may find yourself up against some real “make it or break it” scenarios. Is your spouse in the military? Does your spouse travel frequently for work? How about pursuing a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ dream this summer? Whatever the reason, there are some important steps that you must take in order to protect your marriage during your time apart. Set Up Boundaries The most important thing you and your spouse can do for yourselves is to set very clear boundaries of what the expectations are. Think […]
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES ARE: 1) Words of Affirmation – covered in my blog here! 2) Quality Time – covered in my blog here! 3) Receiving Gifts – covered in my blog here! 4) Physical Touch- covered in my blog here! 5) Acts of Service If these 5 love languages are new to you, don’t worry! First, I encourage you and your partner to discover your own love languages by taking the quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/ After that, stay tuned! Over the next few months, I will be doing a blog to highlight one of the 5 love languages with tips […]
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES ARE: 1) Words of Affirmation – covered in my blog here! 2) Quality Time – covered in my blog here! 3) Receiving Gifts – covered in my blog here! 4) Physical Touch 5) Acts of Service If these 5 love languages are new to you, don’t worry! First, I encourage you and your partner to discover your own love languages by taking the quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/ After that, stay tuned! Over the next few months, I will be doing a blog to highlight one of the 5 love languages with tips on how to apply it […]