It’s widely known that couples upset and anger each other; often unintentionally, but in our worst moments, we may sling a few deliberate barbs out of exasperation. Part of this mutual wounding arises from the foundation of emotional vulnerability that intimate relationships are built upon. When you’re vulnerable with another, a deeper level of emotional [...]

There’s a lot said about the importance of acceptance in marriage and, of course, mutual acceptance is important to a healthy marriage or relationship. But too often, when couples talk about acceptance, what they are really talking about is tolerating something about their spouse or partner. As a workshop participant once shared, “Honestly, I don’t [...]

Every marriage or relationship includes two people with emotional baggage, people who will reveal the deepest, most vulnerable parts of themselves to each other… …and when two people with emotional baggage let down their guard and feel vulnerable and emotionally exposed, there is a greater likelihood that emotional wounding and misunderstandings will occur—despite our most [...]

“Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past.” ~Tryon Edwards Couples make mistakes. It’s inevitable that you and your partner will upset, frustrate, and hurt one another from time to time—to expect otherwise is unrealistic and a setup for major disappointment. But the inevitability of your relationship mistakes [...]

Some of us treat forgiveness like a rare, special gift, only to be unwrapped and presented to another under the most extreme of circumstances and only after the person seeking forgiveness has completed a Herculean set of tasks that show genuine remorse and hand-wringing regret. But the truth is forgiveness shouldn’t be boxed up and [...]