War and Peace on the Home Front
Is your marriage more of a battlefield than the safe, peaceful harbour it is intended to be? Here are three top tips to stop that negative spiral of action and reaction.
Catch These 5 Little Foxes to Improve Your Relationships Instantly
Let’s go “fox hunting.” Catch these “little foxes” of strife, jealousy, anger, ambition, and division and watch your relationships instantly improve.
Trigger Warning: There’s a Landmine Below
Over the previous columns, we have been exploring how our formation from our family of origin can continue to impact us and our marriage negatively. In this article, we want to unpack the third and final way our formation experiences play out – through emotional injuries. Some years ago, Francine purchased a new espresso machine. It came with two espresso cups which she stored in the cupboard for use with visitors ...
How to Fight Fair
‘Shhhh… not in front of the kids!’ We’ve all been there: In the car with a captive audience… or at the dinner table. An argument erupts and the question is: do you save it for later? Or just let it all out in front of the kids? Studies conducted at the University of Rochester, NY, found that it’s okay for your kids to see you argue, as long you work it ...
A Little Restraint Goes a Long Way
Taking a pause and practising restraint in the midst of conflict allows you to identify how old wounds are being triggered by the current situation, and re-focus in order to resolve the conflict peacefully, repairing the relationship and deepening your love. It happens all the time -- one of us does or says something and it triggers a harsh reaction. To break the habit of reactivity, try this mindfulness tool to ...
Be the Change You Want to See in Your Marriage
Are you facing conflict in your marriage? Make the first move. Change your mindset, respond with compassion, dwell on the positives. Change begins with you. All changes in our relationships should start with ourselves. It may be comforting to blame our spouse for the inadequacies of our marriage and expect them to change and meet our demands. But this approach is not only ineffective; it is also unloving. The truth is, ...
