I think it’s safe to say that a fairly universal truth is that all couples have irreconcilable differences. From something as small as a mismatch in how loud you like to listen to the TV, to as significant as differing opinions on how to raise children, all couples have at least that one thing that…
Read more
Solve your solvable problems. Sounds pretty intuitive right? Contrarily, John Gottman found that generally, couples often get off track while trying to settle disagreements and end up in screaming matches or blatantly ignoring each other. What could’ve been a productive conversation ends up being a sore spot, including the topic the fight was initially about.…
Read more
For many, the “anything you say, dear” attitude is a sign of weak masculinity and losing power, but John Gottman would disagree. He believes that for a marriage to not only survive, but thrive, the driver’s seat has to be shared. It’s not about fighting for decision-making power, but about looking for ways to give…
Read more
If life were a movie, we might consider the ultimate profession of love to be John Cusack blasting Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” on his boombox outside Ione Skye’s window, but in reality, it looks more like Carl and Ellie’s 8-minute montage, showing their normal, everyday life together. John Gottman believes that love can be…
Read more
Taking your partner for granted is something of a universal experience. You spend lots of time with this extraordinary person and then over time they start to seem ordinary. Stan Tatkin says that this “boring” feeling comes from our brains doing something very smart: automation of familiar information. If we didn’t, we would never get…
Read more
In any romantic relationship, there may come a time where you begin to doubt. You might doubt yourself, your partner, or your relationship, and this can make a person feel like their whole world is shaking. Needless to say, the breakdown of a romantic relationship can be devastating. Luckily for us, John Gottman, Ph.D. offers…
Read more
Let’s face it – the heart is willing, but the body is weak. In this age of ubiquitous technology, it’s so much easier to distract ourselves from what’s right in front of us. Whether it’s your social media push notifications, the latest TikTok video, or an email from your boss. Because of this, any time…
Read more
If you have been reading my previous posts, you would have noticed the word “mindfulness” often. Mindfulness is the practice of observing, noticing, becoming aware, and being in the present moment in a non-judgmental way. It’s watching and accepting the here and now as is. Mindfulness can be elusive to begin with, but it’s become…
Read more
Coronavirus (COVID19) is here. And it feels like it’s everywhere, including places where we once considered “safe”. Hundreds of thousands of people have been socially distancing themselves in a global bid to #flattenthecurve. Five days into working from home, even for a happy introvert like me, I’m starting to bear the brunt of this pandemic…
Read more
As much as we try to keep anger at bay, the truth is, it’s hard to keep them out forever from our life. Anger is one of the basic human emotions and we all experience it from time to time. In fact, depending on the situation, anger can be an appropriate, valid, and healthy emotional…
Read more
