Some say that in marriage, or longterm intimate relationships, couples have basically one fight; they just keep having it over and over again. The fight may take many forms, may hide behind different content areas and may play out in different arenas, but at the core...
It’s easy to get tripped up on the word and idea of ‘should.’ We sometimes hear people say, “I know I’m not supposed to say ‘should’ “ as if it’s bad or wrong. When we get tangled up with a ‘should,’ it’s usually because we’re having difficulty making some decision....
What emotional reaction do you have to the words “boundaries,” “limits” and “rules?” These words often have a negative connotation, inviting dread or annoyance. Certainly, if overdone, boundaries, limits and rules can be demoralizing or even oppressive. Why then, if a...
How would you describe your relationship with your sister-in-law? What kind of a relationship do you have with your dog, or your car, or your garden? Even without thinking very deeply, you can probably come up with some answers that would begin to paint a picture of...
In the wonderful story of the Wizard of Oz, the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man each fantasize how much better their lives would be if they only had courage, intelligence and compassion, respectively. They perceive themselves to be lacking in these personality traits and...
Relationships can be hard. Sometimes the more meaningful the relationship is, the more difficult it can be. If we choose to invest in improving a relationship, we should understand that it’s an ongoing commitment to learning about the other, ourself and the...
When a quarterback throws a pass, he doesn’t throw it to the receiver, exactly. He throws it to where he expects the receiver will be in a few seconds. And when the receiver runs away from the quarterback hoping to complete the pass about to be thrown, he does not run...
“How can I talk to you when you get so upset and overreact like this?” “I know I’m too sensitive, I just can’t help the way I react when this stuff happens.” It’s not uncommon to hear people accusing others or themselves of being too sensitive, getting too upset or...
A husband complains that no one helps him with the yard work, but if they do, he says, “Never mind.” A mother dreams of resurrecting a social life outside of the house, to have a break from the kids, but if lunch invitations do come, she inevitably declines. A high...
In his poem entitled, “If,” Rudyard Kipling starts with advice regarding the familiar struggle to hold on to ourselves in the face of blame and doubt: If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when...
