Criticism in marriage is never a good thing, and it's my biggest regret as I reflect on my first few years of marriage. Early on, I had heard repeatedly that communication is the key to a successful marriage. So, I needed to communicate the things...
Knowing how to make your wife feel loved and appreciated can feel like a massive and complicated task. However, I’ve worked with married couples for a long time, and I believe more than ever that marriage is made up of the tiny things. It’s not...
In case you aren’t familiar, The Amazing Race is a worldwide competition packed with mental and physical challenges in diverse cultures. It is also a ride of emotions, and couples must work together to be successful. Nancie and I find ourselves rooting for some couples...
Confirmation bias is a big deal in relationships, but especially in marriage. I will spare you the more clinical definition of confirmation bias. Simply put, confirmation bias means you find what you are looking for. This happens in marriage when we assign negative feelings to...
As I’ve worked with married couples over the past few decades, some consistent issues couples face just kept popping up. And no matter what I did, I just couldn’t figure them out—until a few years ago. Mystery 1: Why do some married people respond to marriage...
Currently, what is that thing in your life that occasionally robs you of your peace and patience? For me, it’s the aftereffects of traveling for work. Depending on the trip, the impact can range from making me less energetic all the way to depressed. This...
My wife and I got into an argument while on vacation, no less! Mid-dispute, we had to stop to meet our friends in the hotel lobby. As we were getting on the elevator, so was a woman struggling with a baby and enough baby paraphernalia...
While I think we are all complicated people, I don’t think how we love is always as complicated; it’s just not always easy. I think the more accurate description is this: Marriage is so close. When we get married, everything about you and everything about...
I’ve heard from so many guys that once they got married, they stopped spending time with anyone other than their wives. There seems to be a common misconception that once you are married, the only relationship that matters is the one with your wife, and...
After speaking at a date night event, a couple shared with me how much they enjoyed the night, and that they hadn’t been on a date since their son was born! Their son was 38 years old! OK, I’m exaggerating, but only by 30 years....