When a spouse cheats, what should the innocent party do next? If you’ve ever discovered a spouse’s affair, you know that facing infidelity in your marriage is a heart-wrenching experience. You suffer emotionally, psychologically, and sometimes even physically as the grief sets in. But even though you’re carrying a lot of pain right now, there’s hope. We have seen many couples face infidelity over our years as therapists. While it’s possible to face this experience together and come out stronger on the other side, infidelity jolts a marriage like nothing else. The heartbreak is very real, and if you’re facing…
Looking to deepen your intimacy with your spouse? Ready to reinvigorate your sex life? If you want to keep intimacy alive, you have to nurture it – not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, too. Last week in part one, we shared some of our top resources for cultivating intimacy in the bedroom and beyond. In this article, we’re sharing additional tips and support for you. Read on for more guidance and ideas to help strengthen your marriage and keep the spark alive. 1. 5 Tips for Igniting More Romance in Your Marriage Romance is an essential part of marital…
Intimacy is both an important and multifaceted part of marriage. It’s important to nurture your intimacy on many levels: physical, emotional, and even spiritual. As our relationships progress, life throws curveballs our way, and sometimes it can be challenging to stay as close as we once were. In this two-part series, we’re highlighting some of our most valuable articles all about intimacy. These resources will help you to navigate a variety of situations in your marriage. When you stay focused on nurturing your intimacy, you’re much more likely to keep that spark alive. Let’s take a look at some of…
If you’re worried about protecting your marriage from infidelity, there’s good news: it means you care deeply about the commitment you’ve made to your spouse. The two of you have something special, and you’re dedicated to seeing it through. There are many steps you can take to protect your marriage from an affair, including open communication, setting boundaries, and meeting each other’s needs. In this article, we’re sharing a few things you can start doing right away to help one another feel loved and secure. Let’s get started. Tell Each Other How Much You Value Your Relationship One important way…
Everyone wants to feel appreciated. It’s a natural human desire. And in our marriages, that’s especially true. When we marry, we’re counting on our spouse to help us feel loved, seen, heard, and appreciated. And, each of us takes for granted that the other person will deliver on that expectation. However, it’s easy for marriages to become overtaken by day-to-day routines. Somewhere along the way, showing appreciation can fall by the wayside. What if your spouse isn’t showing the appreciation you’d like to see? Maybe you’ve brought up your concerns before, but you haven’t seen any changes that bring you…
Do you and your spouse have different spiritual beliefs? If so, you might be wondering how disagreements on issues of faith will impact raising your kids. While it’s not easy to navigate through differences in beliefs, it can absolutely be done well. If you and your spouse work together as a team, it’s possible to co-parent children who are happy and secure. The key is in finding and focusing on what you have in common first. Ready to learn more? Let’s get into it. Focus on Shared Values First Even though you and your spouse have different spiritual beliefs, it’s…
Being married means creating a new life with your spouse. This new life means you’ll have to leave old patterns behind, especially selfish behavior. To build a successful and happy marriage, you and your spouse will both need to be more self-giving. So how can you become more self-giving in your marriage? In this article, we’re sharing five things you can do to become more selfless, and build a happier marriage as a result. 1. Consider Your Spouse First The first step toward being more self-giving in your marriage is to consider your spouse’s needs and preferences first. This doesn’t…
What do you do when your spouse falls out of love? If you’re in a committed marriage, it’s easy to take happily-ever-after for granted. You and your spouse took vows and built a life together. You’ve made plans and dreams together. So what happens when your spouse says they no longer love you? In today’s post, we’ll touch on a few important ways to start addressing this incredibly painful situation. While every marriage is different, there are a few foundational shifts you and your spouse can make that could transform your relationship for the better. Let’s take a look at…
Every person approaches decision making in a different way. Some of us are cautious and methodical, while others are more spontaneous. These decision-making styles can have a profound effect on our marriage and every aspect of our lives. You’re either a spontaneous or cautious decision maker. What about your spouse? There are benefits and drawbacks to having similar decision-making styles. Likewise, conflicting styles have their pros and cons. The Potential Consequences of Your Decision-Making Style How could your decision-making style affect your marriage? Here are a few major impacts to consider. For better or worse, it’s worth thinking through potential…
When it comes to the future, there are many ways to approach it. Planning for the future can help us create a safety net and expectations for how life will unfold. On the other hand, dreaming gives us insight into the possibilities of the future. Planning and dreaming appear to have the same end goals, but they’re vastly different. People who tend to be dreamers can quickly build resentment against planners, and vice versa. That’s particularly true when they can’t work harmoniously on their desire to experience a satisfying future. So when it comes to dreaming vs. planning, which is…