Quips and Tips for Love and Relationships

Posts

• Should You Tell Him You’re Leaving or Secretly Move Out?
  Depending on your relationship with your husband or partner, it can be safer and better to secretly move out. How do you know if you should keep your move a secret? Not to mention your new location or specific reasons for leaving. Should you talk about leaving in advance or just disappear? Here are a… Read More »Should You Tell Him You’re Leaving or Secretly Move Out?
• How You Can Move Out Without Your Husband Knowing
  Sometimes it’s safer for you and your loved ones if you moved out of the house without your husband finding out. These tips on moving out secretly – without telling your husband – are from a woman called Diane. Here’s how she left her abusive marriage without alerting her husband to her plans. She got… Read More »How You Can Move Out Without Your Husband Knowing
• How to Be With a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Stand Up for You
  Some boyfriends can’t defend or stand up for their girlfriends, much less protect or fight for them. How do you respond when your boyfriend lets his family, friends or coworkers walk all over you? You love your boyfriend, but how can you be with a guy who can’t or won’t defend you? “I’m not ready… Read More »How to Be With a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Stand Up for You
• Who Do You Talk to When You’re Lonely and Sad?
  The most common thing my readers say is: “I need someone to talk to.” Sometimes we don’t need advice or help – we just want someone who will listen without judging us good or bad, smart or foolish, right or wrong. But how do we find that person? Who do you talk to when you… Read More »Who Do You Talk to When You’re Lonely and Sad?
• Innocent Friendship or Emotional Affair? 4 Ways to Know
  An “affair of the heart” can be difficult to define, but is it not an innocent friendship. An emotional affair is at least as destructive as physical infidelity (in fact, some say an affair of the heart is worse). A seemingly innocent affair of the heart can destroy your family and end your marriage. Here’s… Read More »Innocent Friendship or Emotional Affair? 4 Ways to Know
• How to Make Things Right After an Internet Affair
  Here are a few tips for getting your relationship back on track after an internet affair. I wrote this for a reader who said he was cheating online, and asked how to make things right with his wife. He wants to save his marriage but doesn’t know how. Does this sound familiar to you? If… Read More »How to Make Things Right After an Internet Affair
• 4 Ways to Help Your Daughter in a Troubled Marriage
  If your daughter is not asking for your advice about her husband or relationship, the best way to help is by giving her time and space work through her marriage problems. Give your daughter permission to be a wife. Trust your daughter to be a grownup! No matter how difficult it is for you –… Read More »4 Ways to Help Your Daughter in a Troubled Marriage
• Obsessed With Your Husband’s Affair? How to Move On
  Your husband cheated and you want to stay married – but you’re obsessed with thoughts about his affair. “Why did my husband cheat on me? What did I do wrong, why aren’t I good enough for him?” Obsessive thinking after an affair is normal. These six ideas will help you cope with your feelings of… Read More »Obsessed With Your Husband’s Affair? How to Move On
• 3 Ways to Recover the Years You Lost in a Relationship
  Maybe you feel like you wasted years – or even decades – in a relationship. You held onto a boyfriend or relationship for reasons that made sense to you. Perhaps you stayed married for longer than you should have. How do you recover the years you “wasted” in a relationship? You’ll never get the time… Read More »3 Ways to Recover the Years You Lost in a Relationship
• How to Help a Boyfriend Who Cuts and Self-Harms
  These tips for helping a boyfriend who self-harms are inspired by a reader who was brave enough to say “my boyfriend cuts himself.” It’s important to know that you can’t stop your boyfriend from hurting himself. The more you try to make or convince him to stop self-harming, the more determined he will be to… Read More »How to Help a Boyfriend Who Cuts and Self-Harms
• Did Your Husband Have a Long Affair? How to Recover
  Infidelity in marriage is a betrayal that isn’t easily fixed. Your broken heart won’t be easily healed. Your love won’t quickly be repaired…and trust won’t easily be re-established. How do you recover from a long-term affair that lasted years? Do you even want to save your marriage after you find out your husband has been… Read More »Did Your Husband Have a Long Affair? How to Recover
• How to Prepare Yourself When He Threatens to Leave
  What do you do when your husband says he wants to leave but won’t move out? You start preparing yourself for both the best and the worst that can happen if your marriage ends. These six tips will help you cope with a man who threatens divorce and clearly wants the marriage to be over,… Read More »How to Prepare Yourself When He Threatens to Leave
• Are You Questioning Your Relationship?
  Asking questions about a relationship can be healthy, even though it feels painful and confusing. These three considerations will help you get through the “I’m questioning my relationship” phase. Recently, two readers have asked very similar questions. They’re both facing relationship issues that are testing their love, but not destroying their commitment to their boyfriends.… Read More »Are You Questioning Your Relationship?
• 4 Reasons You Keep Getting Involved With the Wrong Men
  Are you attracted to the same men – guys who aren’t good for you – over and over? The sooner you know the reasons you’re getting involved with the wrong men, the quicker you’ll break the pattern. “I am currently leaving my second terrible long term relationship,” says Sara on 6 Reasons Why Men Hurt… Read More »4 Reasons You Keep Getting Involved With the Wrong Men
• 5 Relationship Tips for Women With Ulcerative Colitis
  These intimacy and tips are for women who have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s, and who want more intimacy in their romantic relationship. I’m not a marriage therapist or a gastroenterology expert – but I am a woman with ulcerative colitis and a sexy husband :-) While writing 10 Natural… Read More »5 Relationship Tips for Women With Ulcerative Colitis
• How to Win Your Girlfriend’s Trust After Lying to Her
  Here’s the first thing you need to know about getting your ex girlfriend back after you lied to her: If you truly love her and want her to be happy, you have to let her make the decision to get back together. The more you push, beg, manipulate or argue her into getting back together,… Read More »How to Win Your Girlfriend’s Trust After Lying to Her
• What to Do When You’re Tired of Being Single
  You may feel like you’re the only single woman in the world – but you are not alone! Here are a few ideas for what to do when you’re tired of being single. I was inspired to write this by Tamara, one of my readers. She’s a 39 year old woman who wanted to settle down… Read More »What to Do When You’re Tired of Being Single
• 5 Ways Time Heals a Broken Heart
  Why do they say “time heals all wounds”? Because it’s true! Here’s how time heals broken hearts, plus tips for making time go by faster so can you feel good again. “I’m really struggling to get over my breakup,” says Paulette on Prayers for Healing and Hope After Your Breakup. “I’ve always defined myself by… Read More »5 Ways Time Heals a Broken Heart
• How Do You Live With a Man You Don’t Love?
  Maybe you don’t feel anything for your husband even though you want to love him – or at least like him. Or maybe your husband irritates, frustrates, or even disgusts you. How do you live with a man you don’t love but you can’t leave? “My husband and I have been married for just over… Read More »How Do You Live With a Man You Don’t Love?
• 5 Ways to Know if Flirting is Hurting Your Relationship
  When does flirting cross the line and become emotional cheating? These six signs of harmless flirtation and five signs of emotional cheating will help you quickly and easily see the difference. I also share the most common reasons people have affairs, to help you protect your relationship. Here’s an easy way to tell if flirting… Read More »5 Ways to Know if Flirting is Hurting Your Relationship
• Prayers for Healing and Hope After Your Breakup
  This prayer for healing is inspired by a short money parable. It’s not one of Jesus’ parables, but it does reveal the power of love and healing! This parable is a wonderful introduction to the prayer, which will help you reconnect with God and heal your heart.
• 10 Ways Make Peace With Your Marriage Ending
  No matter how or why your marriage ended, the separation and divorce process is painful. Even the most amicable and necessary endings aren’t easy to accept! Here are a variety of ideas to help you move into acceptance and peace with the reality that your marriage is ending…or that it ended long ago. The time… Read More »10 Ways Make Peace With Your Marriage Ending
• 10 Examples of Gary Chapman’s Love Languages
  Do you love your boyfriend the way you want to be loved, or as he wants to be loved? It’s easy to make the mistake of loving others the way you want to be loved. These practical examples of the five love languages are based on Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret… Read More »10 Examples of Gary Chapman’s Love Languages
• 7 Tips for Breaking Free From a Controlling Relationship
  How do you break free from a relationship that is controlling and codependent? Whether you’re dealing with love addiction or feelings of powerlessness, you can break free. These tips will help you unshackle the bonds and find the freedom you want. If you are being controlled in a relationship, your mind, body, spirit and soul… Read More »7 Tips for Breaking Free From a Controlling Relationship
• How Do You Live With a Husband Who Constantly Puts You Down?
  Maybe your husband always reminds you that he has more education than you, makes more money, is smarter or comes from a better family. Maybe he criticizes you in public, calls you names in front of your children, or swears at you. Your husband puts you down so much that you’re beginning to believe the… Read More »How Do You Live With a Husband Who Constantly Puts You Down?
• 5 Starter Steps to Leaving an Abusive Relationship
  It may seem like it should be easy to leave an abusive relationship, but it’s not. It’s actually far more normal to struggle and not know what to do when you’re with a man who abuses. For most women learning how to leave a relationship that is abusive and unhealthy is not an easy overnight… Read More »5 Starter Steps to Leaving an Abusive Relationship
• 4 Ways to Respond When Your Husband Says He Hates You
  It’s devastating to think your husband hates you. It’s even worse to hear him say the words “I hate you.” I don’t know exactly how bad things are in your marriage, but I know you are not alone! Read through the comments below. You’ll find hope for your future. You’ll feel encouragement – because as… Read More »4 Ways to Respond When Your Husband Says He Hates You
• How to Stop Going Back and Forth in Your Relationship
  Making good decisions is difficult at the best of times, because you just never know what the future holds! Making a decision about your relationship – especially if you’ve been going back and forth for months or even years – is confusing and even painful. It’s even worse when you’re with a boyfriend or husband… Read More »How to Stop Going Back and Forth in Your Relationship
• When He Says He Doesn’t Love You Anymore
  It feels impossible to cope with devastation and shock when your boyfriend or husband says he fell out of love with you. You may feel like your heart is shattered and that you’ll never laugh or feel good again. You may even feel helpless and hopeless, like life isn’t worth living. When someone you love… Read More »When He Says He Doesn’t Love You Anymore
• 5 Ideas for Motivating a Lazy Husband
  Your husband is a good guy – sweet, supportive, kind – but he has no motivation to do anything. You feel bad even thinking that your husband is lazy…but the truth is that he has no ambition or motivation to do anything. He doesn’t do much around the house or yard, or even with the… Read More »5 Ideas for Motivating a Lazy Husband
• Are You Walking on Eggshells in Your Relationship?
  This is what it means to walk on eggshells in a relationship: you have to carefully watch what you say and do because your partner takes everything very seriously. For example, a reader recently said she feels like she’s walking on eggshells in with her boyfriend. She has to check his mood before she says… Read More »Are You Walking on Eggshells in Your Relationship?
• How Do You Leave Your Husband When You’re a Stay at Home Mom?
  You’re financially dependent on your husband and you’re unhappy in your marriage. Even if you could fix your relationship, you don’t know where or how to start. You’d leave your husband if you could, but you’re a stay-at-home mom without an income. How do you leave your marriage when you have no life, money, or… Read More »How Do You Leave Your Husband When You’re a Stay at Home Mom?
• Healthy Ways to Reduce Relationship Stress
  Stressful relationships at home are much more difficult than stress at work or in the community. Home-based stress is more painful and health threatening than work stress! If you’re stressed at work, you go home and relax. But where do you go to escape from stress at home? To work, I suppose. Unless, of course,… Read More »Healthy Ways to Reduce Relationship Stress
• 10 Easy Ways to Decrease Stress in Your Relationship
  These ways to reduce relationship stress aren’t just for couples – they’ll help take the pressure off all sorts of partnerships: work, community, volunteer, family, and friends. Research shows that creative activities – such as walking labyrinths, selling your relationship stress, and massaging your ears – can reduce stress in relationships, increase feelings of happiness, and… Read More »10 Easy Ways to Decrease Stress in Your Relationship
• Dr Oz’s Marriage Stress Test for Couples
  Is being married more stressful than being single? Dr Oz’s marriage stress test involves 20 questions for couples, related to physical and emotional health. Dr Oz gives this test to married couples, and says men and women experience stress – and marriage – differently. “When a man can listen to a woman’s feelings without getting… Read More »Dr Oz’s Marriage Stress Test for Couples
• 7 Ways to Break Free From Depression After a Breakup
  Coping with depression after a breakup isn’t about meeting new men or dating. Breaking free from emptiness and pain isn’t about learning how to live alone again, planning a home or full-body makeover, or finding a new job. Rather, it’s about folding into the reasons why you are depressed and finding healthy ways to work… Read More »7 Ways to Break Free From Depression After a Breakup
• When You Tried Everything But Your Relationship Failed
  No matter how hard you tried, your relationship seem destined for failure. In our world – this heartbreakingly beautiful, fragile earth – it is not true that love conquers all. How do you move on when you tried everything to save your relationship, but it failed? These tips are inspired by a reader’s question. “We’ve… Read More »When You Tried Everything But Your Relationship Failed
• 5 Reasons Your Marriage Wasn’t a Waste of Time
  If your marriage failed, you may think being married was a huge waste of time and energy. Marrying and divorcing is expensive, exhausting, and even traumatizing! Even so, your marriage was not a waste of time. Read these five reasons being married was worthwhile – even if divorce was the last stop. On my article My… Read More »5 Reasons Your Marriage Wasn’t a Waste of Time
• Are You Tired of Dealing With Money Problems in Your Marriage?
  How do you start fixing your finances after years of money mismanagement and mistakes? “Chances are, if you’re married, one of you is good at working numbers (the nerd) and the other one isn’t good at working numbers (the free spirit),” writes Dave Ramsey in The Truth About Money and Relationships. “That isn’t the real… Read More »Are You Tired of Dealing With Money Problems in Your Marriage?
• A Family Therapist’s Advice for Recovering After an Affair
  Why are some husbands unfaithful? How does a wife’s career and income affect fidelity in marriage? This research study on the connection between income and marital affairs may surprise you. And if you’re struggling to recover from the shock of an extramarital affair, you’ll find this advice helpful. Family therapist Vikki Stark shares insight and… Read More »A Family Therapist’s Advice for Recovering After an Affair
• 65 Easy Ways to Express Love And Affection
  These specific, practical ways to express love to your partner, kids, and friends will improve your relationships. This isn’t about how to build the courage to say the words “I love you” because sometimes words aren’t enough. These tips and ideas for expressing love are more meaningful and long-lasting than words. How does your partner… Read More »65 Easy Ways to Express Love And Affection
• How Do You Forgive and Recover From a Spouse’s Infidelity?
  Forgiving your spouse’s betrayal is so important and meaningful that it can’t possibly happen quickly or easily! But it is possible to learn how to forgive and recover from infidelity in marriage. Choosing to be physically or emotionally unfaithful was a process for your spouse; learning how to forgive him will be a process for… Read More »How Do You Forgive and Recover From a Spouse’s Infidelity?
• How Narrative Therapy Can Help You Get Over a Breakup
  These tips for reframing what happened will help you get over a breakup by changing the story you’re telling yourself. If you’ve been telling yourself that you’re unlovable, unworthy, dumb or even ugly then you may not need as much help as you think! Maybe you just need to retell the story you’ve been telling… Read More »How Narrative Therapy Can Help You Get Over a Breakup
• 5 Signs You’re Settling in a Relationship
  You know you’re not perfect, but are you settling for less than you deserve in a relationship? These tips were inspired by a reader whose boyfriend isn’t half as motivated or ambitious she is. Here’s what she says: “After two years of dating I still don’t know if I am in love with my boyfriend,”… Read More »5 Signs You’re Settling in a Relationship
• 5 Ways to Cope With Feeling Alone in Your Marriage
  The worst type of loneliness is being married but feeling lonelier than when you were single. How do you cope with emotional disconnection in your marriage? Is it possible to reconnect with your husband and rebuild your relationship? Last week my husband and I went to a couples therapy group session. A marriage counselor counseled a… Read More »5 Ways to Cope With Feeling Alone in Your Marriage
• What Happens When You Call a Shelter or Safe House?
  Do you want to leave your husband, but have nowhere to go? Here’s what to expect at a women’s shelter. I worked at a safe house for women and children, and know how to prepare to leave an unhealthy and abusive relationship. If you’re in an abusive relationship, know that you are not alone! I’m inspired to… Read More »What Happens When You Call a Shelter or Safe House?
• Are You Trapped in a Toxic Relationship?
  Breaking free from a toxic relationship is easier when you do not follow your heart. Instead, follow your brains! Take your heart with you, but never trust your feelings when you’re leaving a toxic boyfriend or husband. Your heart is what got you trapped in toxic love in the first place. Feel your emotions, but… Read More »Are You Trapped in a Toxic Relationship?
• 10 First Date Conversation Starters
  Avoid awkward silences and uncomfortable moments with these conversation starters for the first date. The most important thing to remember is that the happier and relaxed you are, the more you’ll enjoy your date. And if you’re enjoying yourself, your date probably is, too. “A gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore… Read More »10 First Date Conversation Starters
• 7 Ways to Overcome Fear of Intimacy in Your Relationship
  Fear of intimacy is often related to being hurt in the past. it involves the reluctance to open up and reveal your true self, perhaps because you’ve been hurt in the past. Or, if you grew up in an emotionally and socially closed environment and never learned how to be vulnerable to either friends or… Read More »7 Ways to Overcome Fear of Intimacy in Your Relationship
• How to Stop Anxiety From Ruining Your Relationship
  These tips on how to stop anxiety disorders from ruining love relationships are inspired by a reader’s comment. He struggles with an anxiety disorder, and is learning how his feelings affect his relationships. He feels anxious and trapped, he likes to be by himself, and he always second-guesses his feelings about the woman he’s dating. Anxious… Read More »How to Stop Anxiety From Ruining Your Relationship
• Are You Unhappy Single? 5 Benefits of Being Unattached
  These reasons to enjoy being single will actually make you happy not to be in a relationship. Instead of resisting your single, unattached status you might was well enjoy this season of your life. This stage won’t last forever. Nothing does. Also, have you ever noticed that single people think they’d be happier married while… Read More »Are You Unhappy Single? 5 Benefits of Being Unattached
• Considering Divorce? Signs You Should Leave Your Husband
  One of the most common questions I get is, “Should I leave my husband?” These signs for women considering divorce may help you decide if you should stay married. Remember that nobody can tell you if you should or should not get divorced. These signs you “should” leave your marriage are for you to reflect… Read More »Considering Divorce? Signs You Should Leave Your Husband
• When You Regret Getting Married
  Maybe you’re facing marriage regrets because you got married too quickly. Or, perhaps you ignored the red flags and warning bells because you were in love. You wanted to get married – and you never dreamed you’d never regret it! But things changed. Maybe your partner changed. These tips for what to do when you… Read More »When You Regret Getting Married
• How to Apologize to Your Spouse After a Money Fight
  Saying, “I was wrong, and I’m sorry I hurt you,” can be difficult no matter how long you’ve been married or how often you fight about money. These tips will help you apologize after fighting about your household bills, credit card debt, online shopping spree or other financial problems. Remember that your relief and your… Read More »How to Apologize to Your Spouse After a Money Fight
• How to Save Money for Divorce When You Can’t Stay Married
  Is money stopping you from starting over? Some women stay in unhappy or abusive marriages because money stops them from getting divorced. These ten tips on how to save money for a divorce will help you create a financial plan when you can’t stay married. After the money-saving tips, I included nine signs your marriage… Read More »How to Save Money for Divorce When You Can’t Stay Married
• Should You Break Up With Your Boyfriend?
  Deciding if you should break up or try to fix your relationship with your boyfriend isn’t easy. You love him; maybe you even need him. I wrote this for a reader who asked if she should move on or wait it out. “I try to talk to my boyfriend but he just gets frustrated and I feel like I’m nagging. Should I break up with him?”
• When You Were Raped and Your Boyfriend Can’t Cope
  Telling your boyfriend you were raped could be the most important thing you do in your relationship. How will he cope with the shock, anger and pain of his girlfriend being raped? His reaction may surprise you. These tips for coping with a boyfriend who can’t deal with his girlfriend’s rape are inspired by a… Read More »When You Were Raped and Your Boyfriend Can’t Cope
• 12 Signs of a Toxic Person
  How do you know if a person is toxic or “just” unhappy? These 12 signs will help you recognize the difference between ordinary bouts of unhappiness and truly toxic people to avoid. I also included three tips from Dr Lillian Glass, author of Toxic People: 10 Ways Of Dealing With People Who Make Your Life… Read More »12 Signs of a Toxic Person
• How Do You Leave When You Have Nowhere to Go?
  How do you get out of a relationship when you have no money, no family support and nowhere to go? You need strength, courage, and a plan. What your individual plan looks like depends on your specific circumstances, relationship, financial situation, health and spiritual foundation. But, one thing is the same for every woman who… Read More »How Do You Leave When You Have Nowhere to Go?
• How to Know If You Should Take a Relationship Break
  Should you take a break from your relationship, or stay together and try to work things out? These signs it’s time to take a break from love are inspired by a reader’s comment. If you’re confused or unsure if you should take a break, read books like Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step… Read More »How to Know If You Should Take a Relationship Break
• How to Write a Love Letter From Your Heart
  These tips for writing a heartfelt love letter will help you express how you feel, even if you can’t put your feelings into words. That’s what true love is: an inability to describe how you feel – especially if you’re not a natural writer or poet. My tips on how to write a love letter… Read More »How to Write a Love Letter From Your Heart
• How to Know if You Should Get Back With Your Ex
  Deciding if you should you try to get your ex back is easier when you take a step back and look objectively at your relationship. This lists of reasons should not consider getting back together will help you decide. You’ll also find the seven reasons you should get back with your ex helpful! Look at… Read More »How to Know if You Should Get Back With Your Ex
• Can You Forgive and Rebuild Trust After an Affair?
  Can you forgive your husband after the affair and rebuild trust in your marriage? The short answer is yes, forgiveness is possible! You can learn how to trust your husband again – even if he was involved in a long-term affair. The long answer is that rebuilding trust takes time, patience, and a conscious choice… Read More »Can You Forgive and Rebuild Trust After an Affair?
• How to Get Over Him and Get Your Life Back
  Getting over him feels impossible right now. And the truth is that you’ll never be the same. A breakup changes you, right to the core and root of who you are. But I have good news! I know you’ll heal, grow forward, and even blossom into who God created you to be…especially if you let yourself get over him slowly and in healthy ways.
• Where Do You Go When You Need Relationship Advice?
  You know something needs to change in your relationship, but you don’t where to start. If you’re looking for advice about your relationship, these tips will help you find the right person. Which, you may be surprised to learn, is actually the one you see when you look in the mirror. You are your own… Read More »Where Do You Go When You Need Relationship Advice?
• How to Attract a Man Without Losing Yourself
  How do you enchant a man without feeling superficial or fake? These tips aren’t just about enchanting a guy or “making” him fall in love with you. Rather, they’re about you becoming the happiest, healthiest, best version of yourself.
• Are You Confused About Your Marriage and Unsure About Divorce?
  How do you cope with an unhappy marriage when you don’t want to get divorced? It is a confusing, difficult question for many couples. Even unhappily married husbands and wives are reluctant to seek or even talk about divorce. Not only is getting divorce emotionally and spiritually devastating, it’s also financially and socially costly. You… Read More »Are You Confused About Your Marriage and Unsure About Divorce?
• Why Do Women Stay in Abusive Relationships?
  Knowing the abuse cycle helps women begin to understand the real reasons for her entering into the relationship and staying. Most women living with the cycle are just trying to survive day-to-day; thinking about leaving seems impossible.
• How to Stop Obsessing About What Happened in the Past
  You know your obsession is a waste of time and energy, but you don’t know how to stop. Obsessing about what happened in the past is more common than you realize! The past is ingrained in our present and affects our future. Even so, we can learn how to stop obsessive thinking and heal from… Read More »How to Stop Obsessing About What Happened in the Past
• 5 Signs Your Husband is Using Facebook to Cheat
  Is your husband cheating on you with his female friends on Facebook? Here’s how to tell the difference between husbands who use Facebook to cheat versus men who having innocent friendships with their female friends on Facebook. “He lied to me about the first e-mail from this woman,” says a reader on Is Your Marriage… Read More »5 Signs Your Husband is Using Facebook to Cheat
• 3 Ways to Love a Boyfriend Who Keeps Pushing You Away
  You want your boyfriend to know you care about him, but he keeps pushing you away. How do you love a guy who won’t let you get close? These suggestions are inspired by a reader whose boyfriend has completely shut her out. She is worried about her relationship.
• How to Lend Your Boyfriend Money Without Regretting It
  Here’s what you need to know before you lend your boyfriend money. Financial loans are one way to show your love and support – but you need to protect yourself! Typically, I’d say it’s never a good idea to lend a boyfriend money. But sometimes you just can’t or don’t want to say no.
• How to Be Happy Without Your Husband’s Love
  Today, you might not be able to imagine how to be happy outside of your marriage. You don’t know how you’ll live without your husband’s love, money, support, or presence in your home. Whether you were blindsided by an unexpected separation or you chose to leave your marriage, know that you won’t always feel the… Read More »How to Be Happy Without Your Husband’s Love
• 6 Ways to Cope With a Lonely Marriage
  You’re married, yet you feel alone and lonely. You thought marriage would involve companionship and connection; instead, you’re living with loneliness and isolation. Feeling alone in a marriage isn’t one of the topics covered in the premarital counseling classes I took – but it should have been! I’ve been married for 15 years, and am still learning that being lonely is sometimes part of marriage.
• How to Handle Your Boyfriend’s Mood Swings
  Is your boyfriend often angry, withdrawn, or moody? One day he’s up, the next day he’s down. Maybe your boyfriend’s moods are negatively affecting your relationship, or even changing how you feel about him. How do you live with and love a moody boyfriend?
• Why You Can’t Let Go of Your First Love – and How to Be Free
  Learning why you can’t let go of your first love ( who is part of your “emotional memories”) will help you find freedom and healing from the past. The first time you fall in love is more precious and enchanting than all your other loves put together! You never forget your first love because it has a special resonance in your actual physical cells and DNA.
• 3 Reasons Women Leave Good Relationships
  There isn’t one specific reason a woman leaves a stable marriage or good relationship; different women have different reasons for walking away. There are, however, three common reasons a woman might choose to leave a good man or stable relationship. These are also the most obvious reasons that apply to women in general. Individual women have personal histories, preferences and dreams that affect their choices.
• 17 Perfect Gift Ideas for Your Boyfriend’s Parents
  The best gifts for your boyfriend’s parents doesn’t clutter up their home, attic, or garage! Finding the right gift for his mom and dad depends on three factors: their lifestyle, your relationship with them, and the length of time you’ve been dating. Your boyfriend may be the guy you love…but he’s also their son.
• Comfort and Hope When You Feel Like Nobody Loves You
  The worst part of feeling like nobody loves you is having no one to talk to. Even if you do share how you feel, people just brush your feelings away. “How can you say nobody loves you?” they say. “I love you, your parents love you, your dog loves you. God loves you! So don’t say you’re not loved, because you are.”
• 6 Ways to Help Your Boyfriend Cope With Death
  Everyone grieves differently, but we’re all shocked when a loved one dies. Death is surreal, almost unbelievable. Everything is different…yet the world is the same. How do you help your boyfriend cope with the death of a loved one? Whether it’s a family member or friend, these ideas will help you support him through the loss.
• 3 Signs You Should Stop Dating Him
  How do you know if he’s the right guy for you? These three signs will help you decide if you should stop dating him. You don’t have to be critical or pick apart everything he says and does…you just have to pay attention to your intuition.
• 5 Relationship Mistakes You Might Be Making
  Making mistakes in relationships is normal – it happens to all couples, all families. But making the same mistakes over and over will destroy a relationship. These are the five most common relationship mistakes that I repeatedly make. Learn from my mistakes, so you can recognize and avoid making your own!
• How Love Changes Over Time: The 3 Phases of Romance
  It’s normal and even healthy for relationships to change over time. Love goes through stages, growing and maturing and changing as you do. These three “stages of love” will help you see how love evolves over time, and give you insight into your own relationship.
• 7 Signs Your Relationship is Worth Fighting For
  When you’re in the midst of a relationship – and the resulting turmoil about love, conflict, the future – you wonder if your relationship is worth fighting for. The problem is you can’t see clearly because you’re in the middle of the confusion! This is normal. These are the three stages of love will help you see and understand yourself, your partner, and your relationship more clearly.
• 10 Gifts to Cheer Someone Up After a Breakup
  How do you console someone whose heart is broken? First, by being there to listen, love, and hug. Second, by taking time and making an effort to find the right gift to cheer someone up after a breakup! She needs to know that people still love and care about her. The best gift ideas show love and support, and tell her she’s not alone.
• 7 Ways to Respond When Your Wife Won’t Talk to You
  You love your wife, but she refuses to communicate. You don’t regret marrying her, but her silence is breaking your heart and destroying your spirit. How do you cope with a wife who won’t talk to you? These tips won’t magically save your marriage, but they will help you see your relationship in a different light.
• 10 Easy Ways to Make Conversation With Your Girlfriend
  It’s easier than you think to find things to talk about with your girlfriend. Making conversation is an art – as well as an act of love and connection. Small talk that bonds is also the fastest way to your girlfriend’s heart.
• Do You Feel Trapped in Your Marriage Because of Money?
  How do you leave when you have no money? Maybe you’re trapped in marriage because of money or you feel financially stuck in a relationship. These tips and ideas won’t miraculously unlock the door to freedom, but they might help you think differently about how much money you need.
• How Do You Get Over Someone Who Cheated and Lied to You?
  Breakups are painful; infidelity and affairs are worse. Being cheated on is an emotional, physical, and psychological betrayal that doesn’t just heal overnight. How do you get over someone who cheated on you and lied about it – especially if you loved a man or lived with your husband for years? “We were married for… Read More »How Do You Get Over Someone Who Cheated and Lied to You?
• 10 Breakup Tips for Guys From a Divorced Dad
  These breakup tips for guys are a refreshing change from my usual “She Blossoms” advice for women! A divorced dad left valuable advice on one of my articles about cheating in marriage. He shared what helped him heal after his wife left him; in this article I share the best of his breakup tips for… Read More »10 Breakup Tips for Guys From a Divorced Dad
• “I Can’t Live Without Him”…Is That True?
  First, the good news: you can be happy without him even though right now all you can think is “I can’t live without him.” I have more good news! You won’t always feel this way. You won’t always feel so sad, lonely, rejected. You’ll never be the same, but your heart will heal and you will be happy again.
• 10 Most Important Questions to Ask a Guy You’re Dating
  The more attracted you are to someone, the more important it is to ask him these questions. Why? Because your physical chemistry – not to mention his charm – will get in the way of making smart decisions about dating him. These are the best, smartest, most important questions to ask a guy because they cover all the bases.
• How to Live With a Husband You Don’t Trust
  “I don’t trust my husband,” said Shelly, a She Blossoms reader in Vancouver. “I want to, but he lied about money and what he does after work so many times…I just can’t trust him. I know he cheated on me at least once but he denies it. How do I live with a husband I don’t trust?”
• 10 Reasons You’re Struggling to Get Over the Breakup
  Even when a relationship isn’t healthy and has to end, breaking up is hard to do. When you understand why breakups are so difficult, you increase your chances of healing and moving on. These ten reasons breaking up is hard to do will give you insight and wisdom, which will help you get over the breakup.
• Will He Still Love You If You Gain Weight?
  He says he loves you, but what if you gain weight and can’t lose it? Will your boyfriend still be attracted to you if you’re heavier than before? Happily married women have the same question. Will my husband still love me if I can’t lose the pregnancy weight I gained?
• How to Lose Weight After Getting Married
  Gaining weight after you get married is normal for many women. The wedding is over, you don’t have to worry about fitting into your dress or feeling fat on your honeymoon. In fact, marriage weight gain is inevitable for some wives!
• When to Leave Your Alcoholic Husband
  Your husband drinks too much, and it’s affecting your family, finances, and future. Should you give up on an alcoholic husband, or keep hoping and praying he’ll stop drinking? Leaving isn’t easy because you have so many things to consider…
• 6 Ideas for Women Who Are Tired of Being Alone 
  These ideas for women who are tired of being alone include practical tips, spiritual insights, and general thoughts on life and love. Whether you recently lost a loved one or you feel lonely in a marriage or long-term relationship, these ideas will help you reconnect with yourself.
• 10 Things to Talk About on a First Date With a Coworker
  Dating a coworker can be awkward; you know him but you don’t know him. These first date conversation starters for coworkers will decrease your anxiety and increase your confidence. They’re geared towards couples who know each other through work, but haven’t spent much time together outside off the job.
• Should You Tell Your Ex You Still Love Him?
  Before you impulsively blurt the words “I still love you!” to your ex, consider these signs that getting back together is actually a good idea. I included four reasons you should not tell your ex-boyfriend or ex-husband you’re still in love with him, and three reasons you should tell him the truth about how you feel.
• How to Get Out of a Verbally Abusive Relationship
  Leaving a verbally abusive relationship when you have nowhere to go, nobody to talk to, and nothing to lean on will take grit, courage and strength. You may not feel ready to actually leave, but you can start reflecting on the steps toward freedom. Each of these five examples or signs of verbal abuse are paired with an idea for getting out of the relationship.
• 5 Signs of Mind Games in Relationships
  What are mind games in a relationship? Power struggles can be difficult to recognize because they’re subtle and almost imperceptible – and sometimes the person playing the mind games doesn’t even realize he or she is doing it.
• Are You Hiding the Truth About Your Marriage?
  You know things about your husband that nobody else knows. Sometimes they’re little things…and sometimes they’re big secrets you could never tell anyone. If you’re hiding the truth about your marriage, you may feel like you’re carrying a heavy burden all by yourself.
• Is Your Wife Cheating on You? A Simple Test
  You know it’ll hurt, but you need to find out for sure if your wife is having an affair. This quick little “is she cheating on me?” test will help you see your wife’s behavior more objectively. More importantly, you’ll see your marriage in a different light. You’ll also learn that an affair doesn’t mean you are an unlovable or undesirable husband.
• How Do You Find a Good Man?
  It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you live, or even how healthy you are. When you don’t have a relationship and you think you’ll never find a good man, your struggle is painful. Maybe you feel bad about yourself and discouraged about the future. Maybe you’ve never had a good relationship; you aren’t… Read More »How Do You Find a Good Man?
• How Do You Face Your First Anniversary After a Divorce?
  No matter why you and your husband got divorced, your anniversary will always mean something to you. Whether the divorce took years to finalize or seemed to happen overnight, your wedding day will ring in your heart for the rest of your life. How do you deal with the first anniversary after divorce?
• 4 Reasons Marriage Counseling Can Lead to Divorce
  Marriage counseling works for some couples, but not all. These four reasons counseling leads to divorce in some marriages will help you understand how to move forward in your relationship in healthy, life-giving ways. I also included options for couples who want to save their marriage with or without relationship counseling.
• Your First Birthday Alone After Your Husband Dies
  No matter how old you are, your birthday is special! Even if you’ve never enjoyed the “birthday girl” spotlight and parties, the day is still meaningful. But this year is different…it’s your first birthday alone since your husband died.
• Are You Staying Married Out of Guilt?
  You feel guilty, but you just don’t love your husband the way you once did. You haven’t told anyone that guilt is keeping in a marriage you wish was over. How do you live with a man you don’t love? Maybe you even cheated on him and you feel guilty for that, too. You don’t feel like you can leave…and yet you feel like you can’t stay married. How do you cope with a marriage rooted in guilt and shame?
• How to Say It’s Over and End a Relationship
  How do you find the right words? Ending a relationship with someone you once loved (and perhaps still love) is hard. It hurts to break up, but you can say good-bye with love and compassion. These tips will help you figure out what to say to end a relationship and say goodbye to someone you care about.
• How to Ask Your Husband If He Still Loves You
  It’s one of the most humbling questions to ask anyone, much less the man you married and vowed to love for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. How do you ask your husband if he still loves you?
• 6 Tips for Dating a Coworker Without Losing Your Job
  Dating a coworker has its pros and cons; you need to go on your first date with more information than you need. But don’t worry if you’re already on your third or fourth date! These tips for dating a coworker will help you dodge the problems that workplace relationships can bring.
• 6 Relationship Tips for Liberals and Conservatives in Love
  As a liberal girlfriend, how do you love a politically conservative boyfriend? Or perhaps you’re a politically liberal wife married to husband with conservative leanings. These tips on how to love someone who has different political views won’t be quick or easy to implement, but they can save your relationship.
• How to Fill the Void in Your Life After a Breakup
  These simple, comforting tips will help fill the void in your life after you break up with someone you love. The most important thing to remember is that you won’t always feel this way! The heaviness will lift, your spirits will rise, your heart will open up, and your future will be filled with hope and promise.
• 5 Ways to Renew and Recreate Yourself After Divorce
  You’re entering the second half of life as a divorced woman over 40 — and maybe you’re surprised, shocked or even heartbroken. How do you recreate yourself after a divorce? These five questions will help you start fresh with hope and joy. They represent the core needs we all have, and they have the power… Read More »5 Ways to Renew and Recreate Yourself After Divorce
• Should You Stay Married Even Though You Live Like Roommates?
  You didn’t get married to live with a roommate, but your marriage isn’t built on love, chemistry or spiritual connection. Do you continue to live like married roommates, or do you leave your husband and start a new life? It’s not an easy decision – especially when you know divorce brings emotional pain, family heartache, and sometimes even financial devastation.
• What Do You Say When Your Boyfriend Asks to Borrow Money?
  When your boyfriend asks if he can borrow money, you may feel pressured to say yes. You don’t think it’s a good idea to lend your boyfriend money, but you don’t know how to say no. These five tips will help you figure out what to say to a guy who keeps asking for a loan. I also included advice on how to protect yourself if you decide to lend your boyfriend money.
• Coping With a Difficult Husband Who Treats You Badly
  Your husband isn’t just difficult at home, he treats you badly and insults you in public. You can’t just pack up and leave your marriage, nor can you force your husband to change. How do you deal with a difficult husband who insults and mistreats you? These tips will help you gain strength for whatever your future holds.
• Is He Cheating? How to Be Your Own Private Investigator
  Can’t afford a private investigator? Don’t want to hire someone to follow your husband or boyfriend around? These 12 practical ways to find out if he’s cheating will help you find the answers you need (but don’t necessarily want to face!).
• How to End an Affair You Want to Continue
  It hurts, but you know you need to end the affair. These suggestions aren’t just tips on how to break up. Rather, they will help you see that a healthy ending will ease the pain and soothe your soul. You’ll see your affair in a different light. You’ll also realize that ending the affair is about rebuilding your self-respect and focusing on why you can’t keep cheating.
• What Does It Mean When Your Boyfriend Stops Texting You?
  It’s easy to get trapped in a downward spiral of obsession and doubt when your boyfriend stops sending text messages! You might even lose sleep over his lack of attention, and wonder if you did something wrong. These five tips will show you the best way to respond when your boyfriend stops texting.
• How to Deal With Jealousy When Your Boyfriend Sees His Ex
  Your boyfriend is meeting his ex, and it stings. You know he loves you, but what if he’s still emotionally attached to his ex-girlfriend or ex-wife? What if they fall in love again, or sleep together, or rediscover their old feelings for each other? What if your boyfriend’s meeting with his ex turns into more than an innocent visit?
• Harnessing the Power of Love to Save Your Marriage
  Love is powerful and strong..but is the power of love strong enough to save your marriage? It depends how you — and your husband — harness that power to renew your love for one another. The power of love is a learned skill, not something that comes from your feelings, hormones or even your yearning for a better marriage. Some psychologists call love an “act of willpower.” Not very romantic, but if you don’t deliberately learn and practice the skills of love, you can’t save your marriage.
• How to Deal With Your Husband’s Toxic Ex-Wife
  When you marry a man who has an ex wife, you marry his entire family – and sometimes his ex wife brings problems that seem impossible to deal with. These six tips for dealing with your husband’s ex wife may not solve every problem you’re facing, but they might help you transition more smoothly into your new marriage.
• 5 Questions for Couples Who Want to Retire at 50
  My husband and I are dreaming about what it’d be like to retire in our 50s – which is less than ten years from now! I researched money and retirement tips for couples who are 50+ and found good financial advice on our bank’s website. If you’re hoping to retire with your husband or wife… Read More »5 Questions for Couples Who Want to Retire at 50
• Why Your Husband Cheated: A Marriage Style That “Allows” Affairs
  You didn’t cause your husband to cheat — he chose to have an affair. But, your marriage style may have created an environment that set the stage for your husband’s cheating. Learning about this type of marriage style will help you answer one of the most difficult questions of your life: “Why did my husband… Read More »Why Your Husband Cheated: A Marriage Style That “Allows” Affairs
• How Do You Break Up With Someone You Don’t Love Anymore?
  There is no easy way to say “I don’t love you anymore” – but there are kind, gentle ways to break up with someone you once loved. These seven suggestions will help you be honest and compassionate with someone you don’t love the way you used to. “When my boyfriend stopped calling and texting me,… Read More »How Do You Break Up With Someone You Don’t Love Anymore?
• What to Remember When You Miss Your Boyfriend 
  How do you cope when all you can think is “I miss my boyfriend”? I understand what it feels like to miss someone so much it feels like you’re missing a piece of yourself. My tips won’t permanently erase your loneliness, but they will encourage and support you.
• When Getting Married Is All You Can Think About
  It’s normal to wish you were married because our society cherishes and celebrates couples. What do you do when you hear about a 50th or 75th wedding anniversary? Cheer! How do you respond to an engagement or wedding announcement? Celebrate!
• 8 Healthy Ways to Deal With Guilt After a Breakup
  The breakup was the right decision, but you feel guilty about breaking up. How do you deal with breakup guilt? These tips will help you find the patience, acceptance and self-forgiveness you need to let go of guilty feelings and move forward with faith and joy.
• Dealing With Guilt After Your Marriage Breaks Up
  Yes, it’s possible to live in peace even though you feel responsible or guilty for breaking up your marriage. These thoughts on dealing with guilt will help you cope with a painful separation or divorce. They’re inspired by a reader’s question on an article I recently wrote about divorce.
• How to Stop Dating a Married Man and Heal Your Heart
  You don’t feel right about having an affair with someone else’s husband, but you can’t seem to let him go. These tips on how to stop dating a married man will help heal your broken heart. I also share encouragement from a woman who broke up with a married husband; it hurt her to walk away from him, but it was worth the pain.
• 4 Things to Consider Before Leaving a Christian Marriage
  Are you staying in an unhealthy or even abusive marriage because you’re a Christian? Perhaps you’re struggling with the “God hates divorce” decree in the Bible. You may also be influenced by your Christian husband, pastor, or religious friends.
• Strength and Encouragement for Christians Dealing With Divorce
  As a divorced (or divorcing) Christian you need strength, encouragement and comfort – and you found She Blossoms! That just goes to show how much God loves you.
• When Your Boyfriend Doesn’t Want You in His Life Anymore…
  How do you respond when your boyfriend – who you love more than anyone or anything – says he doesn’t love you? He doesn’t want you in his life anymore, he doesn’t want a relationship, and he’s ready to move on. These tips will help you cope with pain, regret and grief. One of the most… Read More »When Your Boyfriend Doesn’t Want You in His Life Anymore…
• How to Start Over With Curiosity and Confidence
  If you’re a woman 50+ who is starting over, welcome to the club! You may not have planned this stage of life, but I have good news. You have more – and more valuable – assets than you realize. Instead of thinking you’re too old or too tired to start over as a woman over… Read More »How to Start Over With Curiosity and Confidence
• 5 Tips for Coping With a Critical Husband
  How do you deal with a critical husband who is often negative and controlling? These five tips for women coping with criticism in their marriages will help you see that it’s not you — it’s him. If you’re living with an impossible-to-please man, you do not have to let his negativity change who you are and how you see yourself.
• How Do You Deal With Rejection?
  These four tips for dealing with rejection will show you how to bounce back and get over the sting of rejection. If you feel physical sick and emotionally humiliated because someone rejected you, you’re normal! Feeling excluded, rejected and abandoned isn’t just emotionally painful, it’s physically harmful. Being rejected affects your brain the same way… Read More »How Do You Deal With Rejection?
• 5 Signs You Can Trust Your Boyfriend After He Cheated
  You still love your boyfriend, but you don’t know if you can trust him again after he cheated on you. These five signs will help you decide if you should give him another chance. You’ll also learn how to forgive your boyfriend for cheating on you (because without forgiveness, there is no trust!).
• 7 Reasons Your Boyfriend Doesn’t Talk to You
  These seven reasons your boyfriend or husband doesn’t talk to you will help you communicate with him. Men are uncommunicative, silent and emotionally distant for reasons that aren’t necessarily that difficult to figure out. If you have an idea of why your husband or boyfriend doesn’t communicate with you, then you have a good chance of starting good, healthy, meaningful conversations.
• How to Keep Your Relationship Strong in Sickness
  “In sickness and in health” is easier said than done in any relationship – even the healthiest marriage. These tips for keeping your relationship strong through sickness will help you cope with emotional and physical illness. I wrote this article for a reader whose boyfriend is struggling with depression.
• 6 Tips for Going Back to School After Getting a Divorce
  Whether you wanted the divorce or not, you’re now in a new season of life. Going back to school after getting divorced is a brilliant way to start over! It may not be easy or simple, but it is good.
• How Do You Find Happiness in a Loveless Marriage?
  These five ideas for being happy in a marriage without love will strengthen and heal your heart. I also share tips for wives who can’t say “I love you” to their husbands. You’d be surprised at how many women stay married to unhappy husbands, abusive partners, indifferent men, unloving spouses! You may be even more surprised how many wives are unloving toward their husbands.
• Surviving a Painful Breakup in Your 40s
  Breaking up is painful at any age and stage of life, but a breakup for a woman over 40 is different. These tips for surviving a split in your 40s will help you recover, heal, and flourish in fresh ways! Just sit with that for a moment: you CAN recover, heal, and flourish in fresh… Read More »Surviving a Painful Breakup in Your 40s
• Should You Try to Get Revenge on Your Ex?
  These tips for getting revenge on your ex-boyfriend or ex-husband will help you rise about the terrible things he did to you. The inspiration for this article came from the parable of a princess warrior who got even with those who hurt her…but she paid a great price. These tips are about “getting revenge on… Read More »Should You Try to Get Revenge on Your Ex?
• How Do You Overcome an Obsession With a Married Man?
  The affair is over. He’s a married man, and you know you need to move on. The problem is you don’t know how. You still love him and you can’t stop thinking about him. You know you should walk away because he’s cheating on his wife. He’s a married man and you have to let… Read More »How Do You Overcome an Obsession With a Married Man?
• 5 Signs You’re Emotionally Suffocating Your Husband
  Is your marriage or relationship emotionally suffocating? Maybe you want to know what your husband is doing, going, texting or even eating at all times. Maybe your husband or boyfriend complains that you are suffocating him – or even that you’re overstepping healthy boundaries. Here, you’ll learn how destructive emotional suffocation can be and how to stop crowding your partner.
• How to Find a Boyfriend Who Will Love You
  Yes, good men are hard to find! But if you know what you’re looking for and how to find a good boyfriend, you’ve won half the battle. Here’s how to set yourself up to meet a man who is right for you – a man who will become a loving, caring husband. The smartest way… Read More »How to Find a Boyfriend Who Will Love You
• 4 Steps to Solving Problems in a One Sided Relationship
  Are you tired of doing all the work in your relationship? These tips on how to fix a one sided relationship will reveal what you can and can’t control, and help you create respect and equality in your life. “I have been in a one sided relationship for six months,” says Kylie on How to Know… Read More »4 Steps to Solving Problems in a One Sided Relationship
• What to Do When Your Boyfriend Doesn’t Make Time for You
  Your boyfriend says he loves you, but he’s not around when you need him or want to be with him. What do you do when your boyfriend doesn’t spend time with you? These tips will refresh your perspective and renew your heart, mind and soul. You may feel neglected and lonely, but you have more power than you think! You don’t have to sit around and wait for your boyfriend to make time for you.
• You’re Married to a Good Man…Why Aren’t You Happy?
  Everyone says how nice and kind your husband is – and you agree! You’re married to a good man but you’re unhappy and unfulfilled. You love your husband, but you’re not passionate about him or your relationship. Maybe you can honestly say you aren’t happy with your husband even though he’s a good man. “My… Read More »You’re Married to a Good Man…Why Aren’t You Happy?
• 9 Ways to Know if Your Husband is Lying About Cheating
  If you think your husband is cheating on you, you may be picking up on subconscious clues that he is having an affair. Here are 5 signs your husband is cheating, plus 4 ways to know if he’s lying to you about the affair. These tips are from Gary Neuman, author of The Truth about Cheating: Why Men Stray… Read More »9 Ways to Know if Your Husband is Lying About Cheating
• 5 Uplifting Ways to Cope When You Miss Him
  Missing him more than anything is a bittersweet part of being in love. You can’t be with your boyfriend or husband, and you can’t stop thinking about him. My five ways to cope will help you get through the sad, depressing bouts of missing him. These tips will also help you through a breakup or divorce, which is what one of my She Blossoms readers asked about…
• How to Know if Your Relationship is Over
  Sometimes it’s easy to tell if a relationship is over; other times it’s confusing and unclear. But, even when you know for sure that your relationship is finished, it’s still painful and sad to let the man you love go. First things first. Let the idea of letting go or breaking up fall aside for… Read More »How to Know if Your Relationship is Over
• What You Need to Know About Reconciling After a Separation
  Reconciling or moving back in after a separation (or divorce) isn’t always an easy or clear decision. Getting back together is surprisingly common for many couples who have separated or divorced, but is reconciliation a good idea for you?
• How to Know If He’ll Cheat on You Again
  Once a cheater, always a cheater? Not necessarily. Here’s a surprising reason to stay with a boyfriend or husband who cheated on you once, plus tips on how to know if he’ll cheat again. The answer will surprise you! Marriage coach Mort Fertel says spouses who cheat are less likely to cheat again. So, you shouldn’t… Read More »How to Know If He’ll Cheat on You Again
• How to See the Truth About Your Relationship
  These 10 qualities of unhealthy, bad, or failing relationships will help you face the truth about your own relationship. It won’t be easy, but seeing the truth about your relationship will help you move forward. Facing the truth doesn’t necessarily mean you’re headed for a breakup or divorce. Nor does it mean your boyfriend or… Read More »How to See the Truth About Your Relationship
• What to Do When He Says He’ll Kill Himself If You Leave
  Does your boyfriend threaten suicide if you break up with him? Here’s how to respond to his threats to kill himself, including advice from a woman whose husband took his own life. It’s important to remember that you can’t get all the help you need here. You need to reach out to people in person,… Read More »What to Do When He Says He’ll Kill Himself If You Leave
• How to Let Go of Someone You Love
  When you let go of someone you love, you release the hold they have on you. You become free to move forward and be happy again. Here, you’ll learn healthy ways to let go of a relationship, heal your heart, and move forward in your life. “My heart is broken into a million pieces,” says… Read More »How to Let Go of Someone You Love
• 10 Most Common Relationship Problems – and Solutions
  All couples face problems in their relationships, but not all problems lead to breaking up. Relationships fail for different reasons; the key is to identify what’s really going on in your relationship and work with your boyfriend or husband to find the best solution. Is anger one of the relationship problems you’re struggling with? Better to let… Read More »10 Most Common Relationship Problems – and Solutions
• When You Can’t Stop Thinking About Your Ex-Boyfriend
  You’re obsessed with your ex-boyfriend, and it’s stealing your life! These 7 tips on how to stop thinking about your ex will help you overcome obsessive thoughts. Yes, you can move on and be happy. You can stop ruminating about the past – and you can rebuild your life and renew your heart. The most… Read More »When You Can’t Stop Thinking About Your Ex-Boyfriend
• 8 Creative Ways to Start Over After a Relationship Ends
  You didn’t choose to start over at this point in your life, but you have no choice. These eight tips for starting over after a relationship ends are creative and encouraging. And, they’re inspired by a reader who is struggling to settle into life without her husband… “My husband of 3 years has left me… Read More »8 Creative Ways to Start Over After a Relationship Ends
• What to Do About Verbal Abuse in Your Relationship
  These four examples of verbal abuse in a love relationship will help you recognize unhealthy communication patterns. You’ll also learn a few ways to respond to a verbally abusive partner. Verbal abuse isn’t always direct or obvious, and it’s not always easy to recognize when you are being treated badly by your partner. “Thank you… Read More »What to Do About Verbal Abuse in Your Relationship
• 6 Ways to Rebuild Trust in Your Husband After Infidelity
  It’s not easy to rebuild trust in your marriage after infidelity. You won’t suddenly start trusting your husband overnight, and you may even find it difficult to be physically intimate with him. A lot of it depends on his response to the affair, how you found out your husband was unfaithful, and what he’s willing… Read More »6 Ways to Rebuild Trust in Your Husband After Infidelity
• How to Stop Cheating in Your Relationship
  It seems like ending an affair should be easy, doesn’t it? And yet, it’s surprisingly difficult to actually stop cheating on someone you love. These tips will help you end the affair and start living in peace, freedom, and joy. “It’s not easy to stop cheating in a relationship because an affair is an emotional… Read More »How to Stop Cheating in Your Relationship
• How to Tell a Guy You Want to Date Him
  You like him – and you think he likes you too – but he hasn’t asked you out on a date yet. Frustrating! These five tips on how to tell a guy you want to date him are assertive, yet nonthreatening. “I really like this guy at work and he’s a Christian, which is important… Read More »How to Tell a Guy You Want to Date Him
• 7 Ways to Build a Better Marriage
  Rebuilding your marriage may take less time and be more fun than you think! These signs you can revive your love and rebuild your relationship will help not only with saving your marriage, but also seeing your spouse – and yourself – more clearly. “I want to save my marriage, but it was going nowhere… Read More »7 Ways to Build a Better Marriage
• Why Can’t You Leave an Unhealthy Relationship?
  Here are several reasons you can’t leave your relationship, even though you know it’s unhealthy and even abusive. “I’m a prisoner in this relationship, I don’t know how to get away from him, I know he loves me, but I’m so tired of being controlled,” says Amy on How to Break Up With a Married… Read More »Why Can’t You Leave an Unhealthy Relationship?
• 8 Easy Ways to Make Your Dating Life Better and Brighter
  If you’re down on dating, these tips on how to improve your dating life will encourage and motivate you! Feeling hopeless is the kiss of death, especially if you believe you’ll never meet someone you can truly love and spend your life with. But just because you’re not in love right now doesn’t mean you… Read More »8 Easy Ways to Make Your Dating Life Better and Brighter
• 5 Ways to Help Your Boyfriend Deal With Depression
  These tips on how to deal with a depressed boyfriend are inspired by a reader’s comment. I also included several signs of depression in men, to help you determine if your boyfriend is actually dealing with depression – or if something else is bothering him. How do you relate to a boyfriend who is depressed?… Read More »5 Ways to Help Your Boyfriend Deal With Depression
• How to Forget Your Ex and Get on With Your Life
  If you ask 100 people how to forget your ex after a breakup when you still love him, you’ll get 100 different answers. These five ways to forget your ex boyfriend are the secrets and strategies that worked for me. You CAN move on and be happy again, especially if you trust and believe. Here’s one… Read More »How to Forget Your Ex and Get on With Your Life
• How to Decide if You Should Unfriend Your Ex Boyfriend on Facebook
  Being friends with your ex boyfriend on Facebook can be complicated, especially if you still have feelings for him. Use these tips to decide if being Facebook friends with your ex is a good idea – or if you should just leave the past in the past. “My first love found me on Facebook after… Read More »How to Decide if You Should Unfriend Your Ex Boyfriend on Facebook
• 9 Steps Forward After the Breakup That Broke Your Heart
  These tips on moving on after a painful break up will help you find your inner strength. Faith, courage, hope, and trust are the qualities you need to nurture after breaking up with someone you love. It takes strength to believe that the best is yet to come – but believe you must. Every day,… Read More »9 Steps Forward After the Breakup That Broke Your Heart
• 8 Ways to Heal a Broken Heart – A Girl’s Guide
  Is your heart broken, your spirit shattered? These tips for healing a broken heart will help you move from heartbreak and pain to peace and freedom. Letting go of someone you love is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do…and maybe one of the healthiest things you’ll ever do! If you’re struggling to overcome heartbreak, read… Read More »8 Ways to Heal a Broken Heart – A Girl’s Guide
• How to Cope With Changes in Your Marriage
  Some marriages change for better or worse as soon as the honeymoon is over, while other couples change slowly over time. These tips for coping with changes in your relationship will help you move forward in peace and love. “My husband and I were together for 13 years and married for 8,” says Danielle on Is Your… Read More »How to Cope With Changes in Your Marriage
• How to Help Your Husband Cope With Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD)
  These ideas for supporting your husband through the stress of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will help you walk alongside him. PTSD affects men and women in different ways – and it isn’t just experienced by soldiers and veterans. Firefighters, police, social workers, abuse survivors, and even ICU (intensive care unit) patients can develop symptoms… Read More »How to Help Your Husband Cope With Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD)
• How to Stop Being a Clingy Girlfriend
  If you’re obsessive about your relationship and trying to control your boyfriend, then you’re a clingy girlfriend. Here’s how to stop – and how to undo the damage neediness causes in love relationships. On my article about how to stop thinking about your ex, a reader said: “I am clingy and obsessive to my boyfriend. He… Read More »How to Stop Being a Clingy Girlfriend
• 5 Secrets Husbands Don’t Tell Their Wives
  What is the man you love hiding? All husbands keep secrets from their wives, says Dr Oz. These 5 secrets men don’t tell women are based on a Men’s Health magazine poll, and include reasons why husbands aren’t completely honest with their wives. Here, editor-in-chief David Zinczenko and relationship therapist Dr Laura Berman describe the most common secrets husband… Read More »5 Secrets Husbands Don’t Tell Their Wives
• How to Know if You Can Trust Someone in a New Relationship
  A new relationship is both scary and exciting, risky and rewarding! It’s even better when you trust your new partner. These tips on how to know if you can trust a new boyfriend are inspired by a reader who says… In Daring to Trust: Opening Ourselves to Real Love and Intimacy, David Richo says we… Read More »How to Know if You Can Trust Someone in a New Relationship
• 8 Ways to Build Trust in a Relationship
  You need to know how to build and nurture trust in your relationship, because it’s the foundation of a strong, healthy connection that will stand the test of time. These tips on how to build trust will help you set the stage for a great relationship with your partner. I wrote Rebuilding Trust in a Relationship… Read More »8 Ways to Build Trust in a Relationship
• 5 Signs Your Boyfriend Will Cheat on You Again
  Sometimes an affair is “just” a short-term fling, never to happen again….but not always. Here are five reasons to believe your boyfriend will keep cheating on you. These tips are inspired by a reader whose boyfriend cheated; she wants to know if she can trust him again. “I just found out that my boyfriend of almost… Read More »5 Signs Your Boyfriend Will Cheat on You Again
• 3 Ways to Cope With Abuse When You Can’t Leave
  When you feel exhausted, hopeless and helpless it’s hard to even think about leaving an abusive relationship. These tips on how to cope with relationship abuse will help you survive while you figure out what you need to do. I was inspired to write this article by a reader who is living with an angry… Read More »3 Ways to Cope With Abuse When You Can’t Leave
• Is He a “Bad Boy” Who Will Break Your Heart? 10 Qualities of a Good Man
  Sure, he’s charming, smooth talking, and sexy…but he is one of the good guys? These top 10 qualities of a good man will help you quickly see the warning signs of a bad guy. You’ll see your guy for who he is…not who he wants you to think he is. First, here’s what a reader called Ed said… Read More »Is He a “Bad Boy” Who Will Break Your Heart? 10 Qualities of a Good Man
• How to Cope With an Emotionally Abusive Boyfriend
  Emotionally abusive boyfriends humiliate, intimidate, and threaten their girlfriends.These tips will help you see your relationship in a different light, and help you get the strength you need to leave. If you think or know you’re being emotionally abused, read The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize it and How to Respond by Patricia Evans. She describes… Read More »How to Cope With an Emotionally Abusive Boyfriend
• How to Leave a Man You Love – But Can’t Live With
  Leaving a man you’ve loved for years isn’t just a physical move out of the house…it’s a painful emotional break. These tips on how to leave a man you love but can’t live with will help you decide if it’s time to say good-bye. Deal Breakers: When to Work On a Relationship and When to Walk… Read More »How to Leave a Man You Love – But Can’t Live With
• The Most Common Signs of a Cheater – From a Wife’s Perspective
  Here are 11 signs of a cheater, plus insight into an unfaithful husband from a wife’s perspective. If you suspect your boyfriend or husband is cheating, you’re probably picking up on one or more of these signs of infidelity. There are always signs. I’m reading a fascinating but sad book about a husband who is a… Read More »The Most Common Signs of a Cheater – From a Wife’s Perspective
• How to Love an Emotionally Unavailable Man 
  You’re in a relationship with an emotionally unavailable man, and you love him too much to leave. Writing hundreds of relationship articles – and reading thousands of comments – has shown me that you’re not alone! In this article, you’ll find 10 tips on how to love a man who isn’t available emotionally or spiritually. But… Read More »How to Love an Emotionally Unavailable Man 
• How to Know if a Man is Emotionally Available for Love
  These signs of emotionally unavailable men will help you see him – and your relationship – more clearly. Also, here are the reasons women fall in love with men whose hearts aren’t available. The more you know yourself, the healthier your relationships will be. “A confusing part of being attracted to unavailable, commitment-phobic people is… Read More »How to Know if a Man is Emotionally Available for Love
• How to Know if Divorce is the Best Decision
  If you’re asking, “Should I get a divorce?”, you need an external perspective that isn’t overwhelmed by emotion. Here are 10 signs to help you decide if divorcing your husband is the best choice, inspired by Should I Stay or Should I Go? “It takes a lot of bravery to look right at the truth… Read More »How to Know if Divorce is the Best Decision
• 5 Steps to Overcoming Insecurity in Your Relationships
  Imagine how amazing it’ll be to feel secure, safe, and happy in any relationship. These steps will help you overcome insecurity in all your relationships, so you can build a foundation of peace, love, and joy in your life. This article was inspired by a comment from a reader who is struggling with deep feelings… Read More »5 Steps to Overcoming Insecurity in Your Relationships
• 7 Simple Ways to Mend Your Broken Heart
  When you’re coping with heartbreak, you need warmth and simplicity. These words of comfort and simple tips on how to mend a broken heart will help you heal. Here, you’ll discover how to walk away from a relationship that you thought would always be there. “My boyfriend is emotionally unavailable and struggles with alcoholism,” says Miranda on How… Read More »7 Simple Ways to Mend Your Broken Heart
• Filling the Void in Your Heart and Home After Divorce
  After losing someone you vowed to spend your life with, you’re now searching for ways to fill the void after divorce. These five suggestions will give you something to hold on to through the dark nights. “My wife of five years just came back from a deployment and asked for a divorce,” said Sam on How… Read More »Filling the Void in Your Heart and Home After Divorce
• How to Trust Your Husband After He Betrayed You
  Yes, you can learn how to trust your husband and rebuild your marriage – even after a betrayal. No, it won’t be fast or easy or fun…but it may be the best thing you ever do. In Emotional Affairs Versus Innocent Friendships, Sherry (not her real name) described how her husband destroyed trust in him… Read More »How to Trust Your Husband After He Betrayed You
• Signs of an Abusive Relationship You Should Never Ignore
  Is it possible not to see the signs of an abusive relationship? Definitely! Why? Because abuse isn’t “just” hitting or name-calling. These signs of an abusive relationship will help you learn how abusers control the women they say they love. In this article, the signs of an abusive relationship are described through a survivor’s perspective. Keri… Read More »Signs of an Abusive Relationship You Should Never Ignore
• 5 Signs Your Boyfriend Is In Love With You
  Wouldn’t it be awesome to stop playing the “he loves me…he loves me not” game? These signs he loves you will help you see your boyfriend’s love (or lack of it) more clearly. “My boyfriend totally runs hot and cold on me,” says Tamra on 5 Things to Do When Your Boyfriend Stops Texting You. “One day… Read More »5 Signs Your Boyfriend Is In Love With You
• How to Save an Unhappy Marriage Without Couples Counseling
  Imagine being so happy with your husband that you hope and even pray your daughter has the same experience! These tips on how to save your unhappy marriage without going to couples counseling will help you see your relationship – and your life – differently. My tips are inspired by two women. One is my… Read More »How to Save an Unhappy Marriage Without Couples Counseling
• Cold Feet? How to Cope With Anxiety Before the Wedding
  Pre wedding jitters are the “cold feet” you’ll learn how to deal with – those nagging doubts you feel about getting married. You’ll also want to know about a research study I found; it explored the long-term effects of ignoring cold feet before getting married. “We’re getting married in 2 weeks and I have cold… Read More »Cold Feet? How to Cope With Anxiety Before the Wedding
• 5 Red Flags That Tell You He’s Having an Affair
  Is he cheating on you? These red flags will help you know for sure if your boyfriend or husband is having an affair. Often the most difficult part is trusting your instincts, being honest with yourself, and accepting the fact that he is unfaithful. “I suspect my boyfriend is cheating on me but I don’t know… Read More »5 Red Flags That Tell You He’s Having an Affair
• How to Make a Relationship Last – for Better or Worse
  For better or worse, right? It may depend. Here are seven tips on how to make a relationship last – I combined my own personal marriage experience with a few tips from couples’ therapists. “I feel like my marriage is in trouble,” says Hurt on How to Cope With a Husband Who Criticizes You. “I don’t… Read More »How to Make a Relationship Last – for Better or Worse
• How to Be Strong About Not Getting Back Together
  You know getting back together is not a good idea, but he’s begging you to give him another chance. Here’s how to be strong and stand up to your ex-boyfriend. “I stopped dating him months ago because I know God has a better plan for me,” says Dee on How to End the Affair and… Read More »How to Be Strong About Not Getting Back Together
• Pregnant and Alone? 5 Choices You Can Make Right Now
  You may feel everything from dread to excitement when you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy. These choices are for women pregnant and alone; they’re inspired by Shae, a reader who is 21 weeks into her first pregnancy. “I’m currently pregnant and alone, I’m having my boyfriend’s child,” she says on How to Cope When He Says “I’m Not… Read More »Pregnant and Alone? 5 Choices You Can Make Right Now
• 8 Signs of the Perfect Boyfriend for You
  The perfect man doesn’t exist, but you can find the perfect boyfriend for you. This doesn’t mean he’s flawless. Your boyfriend will make mistakes, disappoint you, and even hurt you occasionally. All relationships – even the best, healthiest ones – go through ups and downs. All boyfriends – even the ones who seem perfect –… Read More »8 Signs of the Perfect Boyfriend for You
• How to Recover After Losing Yourself in a Relationship
  You need to learn how to recover when you lose yourself in a relationship. Why? Because the only way to be happy and healthy is to know what you think and feel. Without this connection with yourself, you can’t find peace or joy. Recently I’ve been getting lots of comments from readers who feel like they’ve… Read More »How to Recover After Losing Yourself in a Relationship
• 4 Ways to Create Love and Peace in an Unhappy Marriage
  These tips on how to find love in an unhappy marriage are inspired by a reader’s comment. She and her husband are unhappily married, and she doesn’t want to tell her family or friends. Here’s part of her comment: “My husband and I have been together for 2 years and we have an eight month old… Read More »4 Ways to Create Love and Peace in an Unhappy Marriage
• Lost That Loving Feeling? When to Give Up On Your Marriage
  The bad news is it doesn’t matter how you feel. That’s also the good news! Why? Because your marriage commitment goes beyond feelings. Here’s how to know when to give up on your marriage instead of trying to make it work – these tips are inspired by a reader who asked for help deciding if she… Read More »Lost That Loving Feeling? When to Give Up On Your Marriage
• Why Does He Do That? Inside the Mind of an Abusive Man
  There are no simple answers to the “Why does he do that?” question, but here are some insights into abusive men and why they abuse. I also included links to articles about why women stay with abusers. I’m getting my Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and have… Read More »Why Does He Do That? Inside the Mind of an Abusive Man
• How to Stop Being a Controlling Girlfriend
  Controlling girlfriends don’t make life light or enjoyable for their boyfriends – or themselves. These tips on how to stop trying to control your boyfriend will help you ease up and let your relationship unfold naturally. I’m writing this post for a reader who commented on How to Deal With Your Husband’s Toxic Ex-Wife. She is… Read More »How to Stop Being a Controlling Girlfriend
• Awesome and Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Her Parents
  Whether it’s your girlfriend’s mom’s birthday or her dad’s retirement party, you’ll find the right gift in this list of good ideas. Why not make your online shopping excursion quick and painless with these ideas?
• When You Find Out Your Wife Cheated on You
  You’re deeply wounded, but you’re brave enough to type the words “my wife cheated on me.” And you are not alone. Every week, thousands of husbands find out about their wives’ affairs. “We got married 18 years ago and yesterday I found out my wife cheated on me,” says Ben on Is Your Wife Having… Read More »When You Find Out Your Wife Cheated on You
• How to Increase Self-Love and Improve Your Relationships
  Healthy relationships aren’t just built on love; they’re rooted in self-love. Learn how increasing self-love will improve your relationship in powerful ways, and change how you see yourself. How do you see yourself? This is an important question, because how you see yourself is how you see everything. If you don’t love yourself, you can’t… Read More »How to Increase Self-Love and Improve Your Relationships
• Dating After Divorce – 3 Things You Need to Know
  What advice have you already received about dating after divorce? Set it aside for now. Here’s what you really need to know when you’re thinking about new relationships after the end of your marriage. While researching “dating after divorce”, I discovered that some divorcees think that most people are not looking to date someone who… Read More »Dating After Divorce – 3 Things You Need to Know
• 10 Time-Tested Ways to Know if You Love Someone
  When you ask “Do I love him?”, you need signs that will stand the test of time. Here’s how to know if you love someone and what you need to know about love. These tips are from relationship experts, divorce attorneys (they know a surprising amount about love!), and scientific research. The least helpful advice… Read More »10 Time-Tested Ways to Know if You Love Someone
• How to Listen to the Still Small Voice
  Here are 7 steps to listening the still small voice and applying it to your life. You’d be amazed at what you know – or what you COULD know – if you listen… I’m talking about listening to the still small voice in the context of relationships, but my tips apply to any aspect of life.… Read More »How to Listen to the Still Small Voice
• What “Letting Go of Someone You Love” Means
  The most important step to letting go of someone you love is to learn what it actually means to detach and be free. If you learn what “letting go of someone you love” actually looks and feels like, you’ll find it easier to shake off those chains and break free. I’ve written an ebook and… Read More »What “Letting Go of Someone You Love” Means
• How to Stop Worrying About Your Relationship Problems
  You know it doesn’t help to worry about your relationship problems, yet you can’t stop, right? Wrong! You CAN learn how to stop worrying. Here’s how. This article is the is the fourth post in my “save your relationship” series. I’m writing about worrying and anxiety because it directly related to decision making and solving… Read More »How to Stop Worrying About Your Relationship Problems
• 5 Ways to Find Yourself After Getting Lost in Love
  Feeling “lost in love” is all chocolate and roses in the beginning … but then comes the saggy middle. Here’s how to find yourself after getting lost in a relationship; these tips are important whether your relationship is still going strong or has limped to a halt. Why do you need to learn how to find… Read More »5 Ways to Find Yourself After Getting Lost in Love
• Are You in a Toxic Love Affair?
  You’d think it’d be easy to recognize a toxic love affair – and let go of toxic people – but it’s not. These tips on how to let go of relationships that are poisoning your soul and breaking your spirit will take you one step closer to Blossoming. If you’re in a relationship with someone… Read More »Are You in a Toxic Love Affair?
• 8 Secrets About Fixing Unhealthy Relationships
  Your relationships are as important to your health as diet and exercise, so knowing how to fix unhealthy relationships is a matter of life and death! Well, maybe not quite life and death, but…pretty close :-) According to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers, the quality of your social relationships can affect your… Read More »8 Secrets About Fixing Unhealthy Relationships
• 7 Lessons Learned From Unhealthy Relationships
  How do you get good at love? By learning from unhealthy relationships, of course! Here are the most important lessons learned from the biggest relationship mistakes made by me and my readers. Do you struggle with jealousy and insecurity? Read Insecure in Love: How Anxious Attachment Can Make You Feel Jealous, Needy, and Worried and What… Read More »7 Lessons Learned From Unhealthy Relationships
• How to Be Happy Even in an Unhealthy Relationship
  Here’s my dirty little secret: I write more about breaking up than fixing unhealthy relationships. So, this week’s series is on how to be happy even if you’re in a relationship that isn’t healthy. One of the most important things I’ve learned from my readers is that not all relationships – not even the unhealthiest,… Read More »How to Be Happy Even in an Unhealthy Relationship
• Surviving Divorce – Journaling for Recovery and Rebuilding
  Here’s how journaling can help with surviving divorce, who journaling is NOT helpful for (based on recent research), and questions to help you journal more effectively. “I found journaling cathartic after a terrible breakup,” writes Rachel Sussman in The Breakup Bible: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Healing from a Breakup or Divorce. “I suggest you… Read More »Surviving Divorce – Journaling for Recovery and Rebuilding
• How to Make a Vision Board for Your Relationship
  Creating a vision board for “your life” isn’t specific enough. Here, we focus on how to make a vision board for your relationship to help you get a clear idea of who and what you want in a partner. “Your vision board itself doesn’t impact reality; what changes your life is the process of creating… Read More »How to Make a Vision Board for Your Relationship
• 10 Gifts for Someone Going Through a Divorce
  When you’re getting divorced, you feel like the wind has been knocked out of you. These gifts for someone going through a divorce will help her regain strength, energy, hope, and faith. Most of them are interactive (you’ll see what I mean as you scroll through), but some are simply relaxing and inspiring. The French Lilacs… Read More »10 Gifts for Someone Going Through a Divorce
• 4 Ways to Stop Criticizing Your Husband
  Critical people don’t just criticize others, they’re also critical of themselves. These tips on how to stop criticizing your husband are inspired by a reader’s comment and question. John Gottman, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert, is a researcher who specializes in how… Read More »4 Ways to Stop Criticizing Your Husband
• How to Stop Loving Someone
  The truth is that you can’t teach yourself how to stop loving someone. But, you can learn ways to cope with the loss of someone you love. Here’s a brief explanation of why it’s hard to let go, plus a few ideas for releasing your grip on the past. When I wrote 75 Ways to Let… Read More »How to Stop Loving Someone
• How to Win Him Back by Recreating Yourself
  You can learn how to win him back, but not by forcing yourself to be someone you’re not. Rather, focus on recreating yourself to be the woman you were meant to be. In The Creative Journal: The Art of Finding Yourself, Lucia Capacchione guides readers through drawing and writing exercises to release feelings, explore dreams, and… Read More »How to Win Him Back by Recreating Yourself
• How to Write a Divorce Announcement
  Here’s how to write a divorce announcement that is brief and matter-of-fact, plus a sample announcement of a divorce. The purpose is to inform friends and associates, and give them new contact information. How to Write Anything: A Complete Guide by Laura Brown is where I found these tips on how to write a divorce announcement.… Read More »How to Write a Divorce Announcement
• How to Heal Your Broken Heart
  Of course there is no one right tip on how to heal a broken heart – but there are several ways to regain your self-esteem and confidence after a breakup. In How to Let Go of Someone You Love, I share advice from relationship coaches and grief experts. I wrote that ebook after writing a… Read More »How to Heal Your Broken Heart
• Should You Marry Him? Sometimes the Answer is Obvious
  This is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make: “Should I marry him?” Go slowly, and consider my reader’s story and my tips when you’re deciding if you should marry him. Read Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married by Gary Chapman. It’s packed with wisdom and tips that will help you develop… Read More »Should You Marry Him? Sometimes the Answer is Obvious
• How to Find Peace of Mind After a Break Up
  If you recently broke up with someone, you may feel anxious and scared. These tips on how to find peace of mind after a break up are inspired by a reader who is confused and unhappy. In The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard, Kara Tippetts doesn’t offer answers for when… Read More »How to Find Peace of Mind After a Break Up
• How to Overcome Fear of Love
  These ways to overcome fear of love are inspired by a reader’s question on my “scared to love” article. The first step to overcoming your fear of relationships is to recognize the signs. In Love Me, Don’t Leave Me: Overcoming Fear of Abandonment and Building Lasting, Loving Relationships, Michelle Skeen describes how to break the… Read More »How to Overcome Fear of Love
• 8 Signs of Controlling Men
  If you’re wondering if he’s manipulating you, then you might be picking up on these signs of controlling men. Sometimes the manipulation is obvious, other times it’s subtle. These signs of controlling men are from Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. This is a must-read relationship book for all couples, because it teaches… Read More »8 Signs of Controlling Men
• When to Give Up on a Relationship
  You’re searching for ways to know when to give up on a relationship – and you’re not alone. These ideas are inspired by a reader who is unhappy about how her boyfriend treats her. The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags: Relationship Warning Signs You Totally Spotted… But Chose to Ignore is a fantastic book… Read More »When to Give Up on a Relationship
• 8 Ways to Know if You Love Him
  A “Do I love him?” quiz can’t address your specific relationship questions. Here are the most important signs of compatibility, to help you recognize true love. Read Women Who Love Too Much: When You Keep Wishing and Hoping He’ll Change if you: Find yourself attracted again and again to troubled, distant, moody men – and nice… Read More »8 Ways to Know if You Love Him
• How to Make a Boy Like You for Who You Are
  If you want him to like you for who you are, you can’t pretend to be something you’re not. These tips on how to make a boy like you aren’t about playing games or flirting. Rather, they’re about being honest and real so you don’t have to spend your time lying or trying to manipulate… Read More »How to Make a Boy Like You for Who You Are
• How to Cope With Divorce
  Even when being divorced is better than being married, you’re still sad about the end of your relationship. These ideas on how to cope with divorce are inspired by a marriage that ended in my family. In Divorce Poison: How to Protect Your Family from Bad-mouthing and Brainwashing, Dr. Richard A. Warshak offers a blueprint… Read More »How to Cope With Divorce
• How to Get Him Back
  These ideas for how to get him back aren’t about manipulations or magic spells. Instead, let’s focus on something more important: rebuilding yourself emotionally and spiritually. The happier and healthier you are, the easier it’ll be to get him back (or to decide that letting him go is a better choice for you!). In Ignore… Read More »How to Get Him Back
• How to Help a Friend in an Abusive Relationship
  You know your friend is being abused, but what can you do? These ideas on how to help a friend in an abusive relationship will give you some of the tools you need to support her. Knowledge is power. Read books like Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by… Read More »How to Help a Friend in an Abusive Relationship
• How to Say Goodbye
  These ways to say goodbye will help you end a relationship with grace, love, and kindness – whether you need tips on how to say goodbye to someone you’re still in love with or someone you work with (or both!). A symbol of your relationship – a goodbye gift – is often a good way… Read More »How to Say Goodbye
• How to Stop Being Jealous
  If you get jealous sometimes (or a lot), you’re not alone. Hundreds of people search for tips on how to stop being jealous every day. These tips will help you slay the green-eyed monster and learn how to love your life, relationship, body, and job just as it is. You won’t overcome jealousy simply by reading this… Read More »How to Stop Being Jealous
• What to Expect After You File for Divorce
  Getting divorced feels different for everyone, but there are some things everyone experiences. Here’s what to expect after filing for divorce – whether this is your first, second, or third time getting divorced. If you haven’t read any books on getting divorced, check out Getting Up, Getting Over, Getting On: A Twelve Step Guide to… Read More »What to Expect After You File for Divorce
• How to Deal With a Difficult Breakup at Work
  Dating a coworker can be thrilling, especially if your job is boring…until the breakup. These six tips for dealing with a work breakup will help you refocus on your job, get through the workday, and heal your broken heart. “Getting back out there” – but not at your current workplace – is sometimes said to be… Read More »How to Deal With a Difficult Breakup at Work
• Help for When You’re Broken Hearted
  Whether it’s a relationship break up or a loved one’s death, you’ll find help for when you’re broken hearted here. I start with hope, and end with practical help for healing hearts. In Comfort: A Journey Through Grief, Ann Hood shares her personal story of losing her five year old daughter Grace. Talk about broken… Read More »Help for When You’re Broken Hearted
• Christian Dating Advice for Women in Love
  The most important decision you’ll ever make is who to marry. This Christian dating advice – specifically for women in love – will help you stay focused on the most important thing in your life: your relationship with God. Everything else is gravy, including your relationship with your boyfriend or fiance. In The Mingling of… Read More »Christian Dating Advice for Women in Love
• How to Fix a Broken Relationship
  Some relationships can’t be saved, and others just need a bit of tender loving care. These tips on how to fix a broken relationship will help you see what steps to take next. I also included five “love lessons” for healthy marriages from married people over 65 years old. In Wired for Love: How Understanding Your… Read More »How to Fix a Broken Relationship
• How to Make Yourself Feel Better
  After a fight with your boyfriend or husband – or a terrible day at work – you need tips on how to make yourself feel better. These eight ways to pamper yourself will help you gather strength and energy to move forward. First, you laugh. You find pictures and cartoons that you already know are… Read More »How to Make Yourself Feel Better
• A Hells Angel Book About Surviving Abuse
  This interview with the author of the first Hells Angels book offers hope for women in abusive relationships. Here, Kerri Krysko describes what it was like to leave not only a difficult man, but a destructive lifestyle. If your husband or boyfriend is manipulative or controlling, read Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry… Read More »A Hells Angel Book About Surviving Abuse
• How to Deal With a Control Freak
  Control freaks are often bossy, micromanaging perfectionists. Here’s how to deal with a control freak – whether it’s your boyfriend, boss, spouse, parent, or child. Read Controlling People: How to Recognize, Understand, and Deal with People Who Try to Control You by Patricia Evans for in-depth tips on how to deal with a control freak. These… Read More »How to Deal With a Control Freak
• How to Rebuild Trust After an Affair
  These five steps towards trusting your partner again are inspired by Ann Landers. If you need to know how to rebuild trust after an affair, you have to start at the beginning. One of the first steps is to find out why he cheated. Books like The Truth about Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You… Read More »How to Rebuild Trust After an Affair
• Gift Ideas for Your Girlfriend – From Pretty to Practical
  These 15 gift ideas for your girlfriend range from pretty to practical. Even if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, you’ll find the perfect gift here. The 10k Yellow Gold Diamond Sun Pendant is one of the most popular gift ideas for girlfriend because it’s so pretty and cheerful. It’s an elegant necklace featuring a sun… Read More »Gift Ideas for Your Girlfriend – From Pretty to Practical
• How to Start Over After a Breakup
  These tips on starting over after a breakup will help you see that your relationship isn’t the most important thing in your life. You will move on and be happy again – and it’s only your effort that counts. One of my favorite books on how to start over after a breakup is It’s Called a… Read More »How to Start Over After a Breakup
• How to Change Back to Your Maiden Name After a Divorce
  Thinking about changing your name? Here’s what you need to know about a name change, plus tips on how to change back to your maiden name after a divorce. In Happily Ever After: Walking with Peace and Courage Through a Year of Divorce, Kristin Armstrong describes how she began her recovery from her divorce to… Read More »How to Change Back to Your Maiden Name After a Divorce
• “Happy 40th Birthday!” Ideas for Your Boyfriend
  These gifts and ideas will help you find the perfect way to say Happy 40th Birthday to your boyfriend. The best birthday ideas for a boyfriend are gifts that celebrate his personality and encourage him to pursue his passions in life. Kicking off this list of 40th birthday ideas for your boyfriend is a Cenzo Duffle Vecchio Brown… Read More »“Happy 40th Birthday!” Ideas for Your Boyfriend
• How to Find Love When You Feel Unlovable
  Here’s a list of reasons you can answer YES to the “Will I ever find love?” question. Plus, I share practical tips on how to find love in your life – especially when you feel unlovable or unwanted. In Love Will Find You: 9 Magnets to Bring You and Your Soulmate Together, Kathryn Alice encourages people who feel… Read More »How to Find Love When You Feel Unlovable
• How to Take Care of Yourself After a Divorce
  These tips on how to take care of yourself after a divorce will help you adapt to your new life emotionally and spiritually. The first thing you need to do is learn what taking care of yourself means to you. In Divorce Care: Hope, Help, and Healing During and After Your Divorce, Steve Grissom and… Read More »How to Take Care of Yourself After a Divorce
• Are You Really in Love? 8 Signs of a Serious Relationship
  Asking “Am I in love?” is one of the first things we do when we start having more serious feelings. These signs of a serious relationship will help you know if you’re truly in love or merely infatuated with the guy you’re dating. If you feel like you don’t know your boyfriend well, read 101… Read More »Are You Really in Love? 8 Signs of a Serious Relationship
• 5 Signs You Are Ready for a Relationship
  The best reason to ask yourself, “Am I ready for a relationship?” is so you don’t race ahead blindly. These signs you’re ready to start dating again will help you avoid getting your heart broken – or breaking someone else’s heart. Are you too picky when it comes to love? Read Marry Him: The Case for… Read More »5 Signs You Are Ready for a Relationship
• Why He Doesn’t Love You
  Finding the answer to the question, “Why don’t you love me?” can help you move on. Here’s what I learned and how I coped when two people I love told me they don’t love me anymore. My tips are inspired by a new love I found – a love that is powerful, never-ending, and peace-giving!… Read More »Why He Doesn’t Love You
• Filing for Divorce? How to Prepare Yourself Emotionally
  Your lawyer has the legal strategies on how to file for divorce. These tips for preparing yourself for a divorce will give you the emotional strength you need to face what lies ahead. Filing for divorce will be more painful and expensive than you think – but you will bounce back. If your ex-husband is… Read More »Filing for Divorce? How to Prepare Yourself Emotionally
• How to Be Strong After a Break Up
  Even if breaking up was your choice, it still hurts deep. These ideas on how to be strong after a break up are inspired by strong women who survived devastating betrayals and breakups. I also share how I found strength after the worst break up of my life. In It’s A Breakup Not A Breakdown,… Read More »How to Be Strong After a Break Up
• How to Break Up With Someone You Love But Can’t Be With
  Love isn’t all you need to save a relationship. These tips on how to break up with someone you love will help you see your relationship in a different light; they’re inspired by a reader’s comment on my article about dating someone who is married. “I know I need to let him go,” says Page… Read More »How to Break Up With Someone You Love But Can’t Be With
• How to Stop Overthinking Your Relationship
  When you’re in love, it’s so tempting to ruminate and obsess. But overthinking is unhealthy and destructive. If you’re ready to learn how to stop overthinking a relationship, try these seven strategies for women who think too much… In You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking… Read More »How to Stop Overthinking Your Relationship
• Are You Tired of the Silent Treatment in Your Relationship?
  The silent treatment is the most common pattern of conflict in marriage or any committed romantic relationship. These tips on dealing with the silent treatment in relationships will help you undo some of the damage it causes. Taken too far, the silent treatment is emotional abuse – and it’s definitely one of the causes of… Read More »Are You Tired of the Silent Treatment in Your Relationship?
• Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a New Relationship
  Before jumping into things with a new partner – no matter how awesome he or she is – check out these questions to ask yourself before starting a new relationship. And remember: start as you mean to go. In How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving, David Richo teaches how… Read More »Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a New Relationship
• 10 Causes of Relationship Problems
  Identifying what is causing problems in your relationship will increase the love in your life. These causes of relationship problems range from sabotage to laziness; they’re inspired by a reader who is realizing that she is causing problems with her boyfriend. In Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: And How You Can Make Yours Last, John… Read More »10 Causes of Relationship Problems
• What to Do When You Feel Alone in a Relationship
  Being in a relationship isn’t a cure for loneliness. These tips will help when you feel sad and alone in a relationship – even when your partner is right beside you. If you want to deal with your loneliness, get the Leaving Loneliness Workbook: Building Relationships with Yourself and Others. David Narang helps readers address persistent… Read More »What to Do When You Feel Alone in a Relationship
• How to Find a Boyfriend
  These tips for finding someone to love will give you hope and encouragement, and show you one thing more important than knowing how to find a boyfriend. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of finding a boyfriend, read The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible by Ali Binazir, MD. This book combines… Read More »How to Find a Boyfriend
• How to Start Over When You Need Money
  Here’s what to do when you need money to start over, inspired by the parable of Midas – and a reader’s comment on getting money to start her life over again. How To Make Any Divorce Better: Specific Steps to Make Things Smoother, Faster, Less Painful and Save You a Lot of Money by lawyer Ed… Read More »How to Start Over When You Need Money
• How to Free Yourself From Obsessive Thoughts
  Do you want freedom from compulsively thinking about something – or someone? These tips on how to free yourself from obsessive thoughts are inspired by a reader’s comment, and by my own recent discoveries. In Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back, Milton Cudney and Robert E.… Read More »How to Free Yourself From Obsessive Thoughts
• How to Get Help for Your Marriage
  Getting marriage help is both simple and complicated. These tips on how to get help for your marriage are inspired by The Marriage Parable – and by a reader’s comment. In Desperate Marriages: Moving Toward Hope and Healing in Your Relationship, Gary Chapman offers positive steps for dealing with spouses who are workaholics, controlling, uncommunicative, physically,… Read More »How to Get Help for Your Marriage
• How to Stop Relationship Anxiety
  If you learn how to stop relationship anxiety, you’ll find peace, joy, and hope. These tips for stopping anxiety from affecting your relationship are inspired by a reader’s comment – and by The Parable of the Hungry Wolf. One of my favorite books on letting go of insecurity and anxiety is The Gifts of Imperfection:… Read More »How to Stop Relationship Anxiety
• 5 Steps to Take if You Think Your Marriage is Over
  A reader asked “How do you know when your marriage is over?” While the signs are different for everyone, there are a few common denominators. Uncertainty, grief, and fear are the most common emotions when you’re confused about your marriage. If you want to stay married, read How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About… Read More »5 Steps to Take if You Think Your Marriage is Over
• What to Do After a Breakup – Emotional Healing
  These suggestions for emotional healing will help you know what to do after a breakup. They’re inspired by The Parable of the Tiger and the Strawberries – one of my favorite stories of acceptance, being in the moment, and victory! In You Can Heal Your Heart: Finding Peace After a Breakup, Divorce, or Death, Louise… Read More »What to Do After a Breakup – Emotional Healing
• How to Let Go of a Relationship
  Letting go of relationships – whether a long marriage or a short friendship – might be the hardest thing you’ll ever do. These tips on how to let go of a relationship are inspired by The Parable of Letting Go, as well as my own experience with loss and healing. In The Untethered Soul: The… Read More »How to Let Go of a Relationship
• Signs of a Failing Relationship
  Relationships fail for many reasons; if you can see the signs of a failing relationship early, you have a better chance of fixing it. Inspired by The Parable of the Poor Farmer – and by a reader’s comment about her failed relationship – these signs may bring you the insight you need. Dr. Barbara De… Read More »Signs of a Failing Relationship
• How to Be Financially Independent in a Controlling Relationship
  These tips on how to become financially independent when you have a controlling husband are inspired by The Parable of the Forest Pit – and by a reader who asked for financial help on my article about getting money to leave your husband. Read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It’s the most important financial book… Read More »How to Be Financially Independent in a Controlling Relationship
• 4 Signs You’re Fooling Yourself About Your Relationship
  The Parable of the Hopeless Romantic will help you see the difference between fooling yourself about your relationship versus being a hopeless romantic. If you’re fooling yourself, it’s time to let go. If you already know you’re a hopeless romantic and you just want to improve your relationship, read 10,000 Ways to Say I Love You:… Read More »4 Signs You’re Fooling Yourself About Your Relationship
• How Long to Wait Before Starting a New Relationship
  You need time to heal after a breakup – but how much time is enough? These tips on how long to wait before starting a new relationship will help you make sure you’re off to a good start. In Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy,… Read More »How Long to Wait Before Starting a New Relationship
• When You Can’t Let Go of the Past
  What do you do when you’re stuck and can’t seem to move on? Here’s what to do when you can’t let go of the past – whether it’s a relationship, job, person, or even a pet. Most of us struggle with being stuck with some sort of past memories and regrets. It’s part of loving… Read More »When You Can’t Let Go of the Past
• How to Find the Best Gifts for Boyfriends
  These strategies for finding the best gifts for boyfriends will help you choose the perfect gift. Gift ideas, plus how to know what the best gift for him is. I also included a parable to illustrate my tips on how to find the best gift – it’s The Gift of Insults parable. If your boyfriend likes… Read More »How to Find the Best Gifts for Boyfriends
• Dealing With Trust Issues in Relationships
  These five ways to deal with your trust issues in relationships are inspired by The Parable of the Climb. Many relationship problems are related to issues with trust, according to psychotherapist David Richo. In Daring to Trust: Opening Ourselves to Real Love and Intimacy, Richo describes how we learn early in life to trust others… Read More »Dealing With Trust Issues in Relationships
• How to Support Yourself Financially After a Breakup
  One of the biggest obstacles to leaving a bad relationship is not knowing how to support yourself financially after the breakup, separation, or divorce. These tips are in response to a reader who needs money to leave her partner – and they’re also inspired by a parable called “This, Too, Shall Pass.” In Divorce –… Read More »How to Support Yourself Financially After a Breakup
• End of Life Care for Your Husband – Home or Hospice?
  A palliative care nurse shares her opinion about providing end of life care for your husband at home versus in hospice. She describes end of life care issues, problems, and blessings. When you said “til death do us part”, you probably weren’t thinking about providing end of life care at home for your husband. I… Read More »End of Life Care for Your Husband – Home or Hospice?
• How to Start the Separation Process
  These five tips on starting the process of separating from your husband or common-law partner are based on the Parable of the Pony, and inspired by a reader’s question on my article about the warning signs of a bad relationship. In Divorce Poison: How to Protect Your Family from Bad-Mouthing and Brainwashing, Dr. Richard A.… Read More »How to Start the Separation Process
• How to Spy the Lie and Catch a Liar
  These six ways to catch a lie are inspired by Shiva and Shakti’s parable about a bag of gold, and based on psychology research about catching liars. You don’t need a lie detector test to know if your boyfriend or husband is lying to you. If you want to become adept at knowing when someone… Read More »How to Spy the Lie and Catch a Liar
• How to Tell Your Ex You’re Getting Married
  Whether you broke up six months or six years ago, telling your ex you’re getting married again can be uncomfortable at best – and scary at worst! These thoughts on how to tell your ex about your remarriage are inspired by a reader’s comment and a parable about a waterfall. To learn how to slowly… Read More »How to Tell Your Ex You’re Getting Married
• 5 Tips for a Healthy Relationship With Your In-Laws
  Believe it or not, stressful family visits can be a thing of the past! These tips for a healthy relationship with your in-laws are inspired by a reader who is dealing with a difficult mother-in-law during an Easter family visit. If you are serious about building a healthy relationship with your in-laws, read A Wife’s… Read More »5 Tips for a Healthy Relationship With Your In-Laws
• How to Set Boundaries in Your Marriage
  These 9 tips for setting boundaries in marriage will help you and your partner improve your relationship. Based on Henry Cloud and John Townsend’s book about relationship boundaries, these are the most important things to know about how to set boundaries in your marriage. “Boundaries define us,”write Cloud and Townsend in Boundaries in Marriage. “They… Read More »How to Set Boundaries in Your Marriage
• How to Write a Breakup Letter
  These tips for writing a breakup letter will help you say what’s in your heart and on your mind. Knowing how to write a breakup letter is important, but it’s even more important to know what to send along with the breakup letter. I was once given a gift similar to the Gund Plush “I’m Sorry”… Read More »How to Write a Breakup Letter
• 6 Ways to Help Your Depressed Husband
  Saying the words “my husband is depressed” is difficult, especially if he isn’t willing to face his depression. These six ways to help your depressed husband cope will help you navigate the rocky terrain of depression and marriage. If you haven’t read up on marriage and depression, consider What to Do When Someone You Love… Read More »6 Ways to Help Your Depressed Husband
• 15 Things You Need to Know About Your Military Marriage
  In this article, I combine research findings about military spouses and relationships with practical tips on saving your marriage to a military spouse. If you’re married to a military man, you already know your marriage isn’t the same as a non-military relationship! These tips on how to save your military marriage are based on research… Read More »15 Things You Need to Know About Your Military Marriage
• 10 Signs of Good Relationship Advice
  You need help with your relationship – but what if you get bad relationship advice? These 10 signs of good relationship advice will help you know if you’re getting tips that will actually save your relationship. One of the best sources of good relationship advice (besides Ann Landers and Dear Abby’s relationship advice column of… Read More »10 Signs of Good Relationship Advice
• 7 Signs He Wants a Relationship With You
  How do you know if a guy wants to be with you, and only you? Here are eight signs he wants a relationship with you, to help you decide how much of your heart, time, and energy you should give him. In Get the Guy: Learn Secrets of the Male Mind to Find the Man… Read More »7 Signs He Wants a Relationship With You
• Emotional Intelligence Test for Couples
  This emotional intelligence test for couples works best if both partners participate, but it also offers healthy insights for individuals. If you can talk about the signs of an emotionally healthy relationship, you’ll grow closer as a couple. If neither of you are emotionally healthy, your relationship will falter. “People’s emotions are rarely put into… Read More »Emotional Intelligence Test for Couples
• How to Overcome Hurt Feelings
  Innocent things can hurt our feelings, but we have to move on. These tips for overcoming hurt feelings will help you learn how to deal with accidental and intentional hurts in relationships. If you suspect or know deep down that your partner is deliberately hurting you – such as in an emotionally or physically abusive… Read More »How to Overcome Hurt Feelings
• 6 Ways to Build Emotionally Healthy Relationships
  Toxic relationships can grow without your awareness, which is why it’s crucial to learn what emotionally healthy relationships are. These six steps to emotional health in all types of relationships will help you be intentional and thoughtful about what you’re creating in your life. In Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, Daniel… Read More »6 Ways to Build Emotionally Healthy Relationships
• How to Make a Long Distance Relationship Work
  These 10 ways to make sure your long distance relationship works are based on research, as well as my own experience with my husband before we married. Dr Gregory Guldner, author of Long Distance Relationships: The Complete Guide, says an important tip on how to make a long distance relationship work is to discuss the… Read More »How to Make a Long Distance Relationship Work
• How to Stop Blaming Yourself for the Break Up
  Are you playing the “blame game” after a break up – and you hate yourself for what happened? These tips on how to stop blaming yourself will help you accept the end of your relationship. I wrote this for a reader whose relationship ended in an unexpected break up. She can’t stop blaming herself, she… Read More »How to Stop Blaming Yourself for the Break Up
• Surprise, You’re Pregnant! How Do You Cope?
  These tips for coping with a surprise pregnancy are inspired by a 43 year old reader. She just found that she is pregnant. She’s in her 40s and wasn’t planning to have a baby with her boyfriend. “I’m 43 and I just found out this week I was pregnant,” she said on Having a Baby… Read More »Surprise, You’re Pregnant! How Do You Cope?
• How to Recover From Love Addiction
  Love addiction recovery may take a few sessions with a relationship counselor, but here’s a starting point: six tips for overcoming the feeling of being addicted to someone you love. In Is It Love or Is It Addiction?, Brenda Schaeffer defines what love addiction is and what it is not. She also describes how to identify… Read More »How to Recover From Love Addiction
• The Number One Predictor of Divorce
  Can you predict whether or not you’ll get divorced? Some know divorce is looming. Knowing the top predictor of divorce is the first step to building a happier, healthier relationship with your partner. If you said “money” when you saw “number one predictor of divorce”, you are correct. Money causes more relationship problems than anything… Read More »The Number One Predictor of Divorce
• How to Cope When Your Relationship Falls Apart
  When your relationship is falling apart, you may feel helpless, confused, and scared. These tips for coping when your relationship falls apart will give you something to hang on to – and show you that you’re not alone. These four ways to cope with a relationship meltdown are from Daphne Rose Kingma’s book, The Ten Things to… Read More »How to Cope When Your Relationship Falls Apart
• How to Have a Happy Marriage
  New research on marriage shows that the happier the wife, the happier the life. This insight into how to have a happy marriage is inspired by a Rutgers study – and the findings can be applied to any relationship. In The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference,… Read More »How to Have a Happy Marriage
• 3 Ways to Make Divorce Less Painful
  I’ve experienced the effects of a heartbreaking split, and I know the pain of divorce doesn’t have to be permanent. Here are several ways to make divorce less painful for you, your kids, and your loved ones. In Divorce Care: Hope, Help, and Healing During and After Your Divorce, Steve Grissom and Kathy Leonard offer daily reminders… Read More »3 Ways to Make Divorce Less Painful
• Is He Right for You? 20 Reasons to Break Up
  You’re confused about your relationship – you’re asking, “Is he right for me?” These 20 reasons to break up will give you an objective perspective and help you see your boyfriend for who he is…for better or worse. In Get the Guy: Learn Secrets of the Male Mind to Find the Man You Want and the… Read More »Is He Right for You? 20 Reasons to Break Up
• Overcoming Fear of Abandonment in Relationships
  You’re in a relationship with someone who isn’t good for you, yet you can’t leave. Overcoming your fear of abandonment is the first step to breaking free from destructive relationships. In Love Me, Don’t Leave Me: Overcoming Fear of Abandonment and Building Lasting, Loving Relationships, Michelle Skeen describes the roots of fear of abandonment and… Read More »Overcoming Fear of Abandonment in Relationships
• How to Stop Being Bored in Your Relationship
  Relationship boredom might lead to a painful, unnecessary breakup. These tips on how to stop being bored in relationship will help you find happiness in life and peace with your partner. If you believe you’re bored in a relationship because of lack of physical intimacy or passion, read Passionate Marriage: Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive… Read More »How to Stop Being Bored in Your Relationship
• When You’re Scared to Get Married
  Whether you call it marriage doubts or pre-wedding jitters – or you’re scared to get married even though you’re not even engaged yet – here are a few things to think about. The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller will help you square… Read More »When You’re Scared to Get Married
• How Growing Up Poor Affects Your Relationship
  The consequences of growing up poor don’t end when you’re a financially stable adult. Here’s how growing up poor affects your relationship or marriage, and how to stop money from destroying love. In The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language, by Scott Palmer and Bethany Palmer say that once you know your… Read More »How Growing Up Poor Affects Your Relationship
• How to Stop Ruminating About the Past
  It’s natural to look back at your relationship and (hopefully) learn from it, but at some point you need to focus on your future. Here are a few tips on how to stop ruminating about the past, based on the results of recent research from Florida State University. The Secret of Letting Go by Guy Finley offers… Read More »How to Stop Ruminating About the Past
• How to Forgive Your Ex-Husband for Leaving You
  You know you should forgive your ex-husband, but you just don’t know how. These tips on how to find forgiveness will help you heal, overcome the pain, and move forward in your life. I wrote this article for a reader called Gloria, who said: “My ex-husband and I were so close, and I never dreamed he… Read More »How to Forgive Your Ex-Husband for Leaving You
• Should You Sign a Prenuptial Agreement? Pros and Cons
  Learn what a prenuptial agreement is, why you shouldn’t be hurt if your fiancé asks you to sign a marriage contract, and the pros and cons of signing a prenuptial agreement. Even if a lawyer has drawn up the prenuptial agreement, I encourage you to get Prenuptial Agreements: How to Write a Fair & Lasting… Read More »Should You Sign a Prenuptial Agreement? Pros and Cons
• 9 Makeover Ideas for After a Breakup
  One of the best ways to heal after a break up is to give yourself a makeover. These tips aren’t just for beauty makeovers, because learning how to give yourself a makeover after a break up isn’t just about changing your appearance. This break up is your chance to re-evaluate your life, and what you… Read More »9 Makeover Ideas for After a Breakup
• 5 Big Relationship Mistakes and Solutions
  These aren’t the biggest mistakes in relationships that are obviously destructive. Rather, these are the insidious little relationship mistakes that creep up over time, and damage our foundation from the bottom up. One of the biggest mistakes we often make is not nurturing our relationships. Read books like For Better: How the Surprising Science of Happy… Read More »5 Big Relationship Mistakes and Solutions
• When He Doesn’t Love You the Way He Used To…
  If you can’t stop the words “he doesn’t love me” from running through your brain and breaking your heart, you are not alone! I struggled with lovesick grief for too long. Here’s how to accept the pain of rejection and start growing forward. He may not love you anymore, but he can’t stop your heart… Read More »When He Doesn’t Love You the Way He Used To…
• 6 Ways to Develop Intuition in Your Relationships
  Using your intuition helps you make quicker, more inspired decisions. Developing intuition in your relationship will help you connect with your partner and see your relationship more clearly. Intuition is particularly important when you’re dealing with relationship problems, because intuition helps you sort through the clutter and noise, so you can get to the root… Read More »6 Ways to Develop Intuition in Your Relationships
• How to Save Your Marriage Without Counseling
  Many women ask me how to save a marriage without going to a relationship counselor. These eight tips are based on quotations about forgiveness, love, and hope for the future — because not all husbands want to go to marriage counseling  and not all couples can afford it. Since learning how to save a marriage… Read More »How to Save Your Marriage Without Counseling
• Dealing With Unresolved Anger in Relationships
  Past hurts and arguments are painful, and they don’t vanish overnight. These for dealing with unresolved anger in your relationship will help you break free from emotional baggage. Harriet Lerner, author of Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships says, “Anger is a tricky emotion.  It signals that something is wrong… Read More »Dealing With Unresolved Anger in Relationships
• 5 Ways to Deal With Relationship Problems
  We all have relationship problems at some point. How we deal with the problem can make or break our relationship, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. Here’s a quick summary of five different ways to deal with different types of relationship problems….for better or worse. How One of You Can Bring the Two… Read More »5 Ways to Deal With Relationship Problems
• How to Prepare to Walk Away From a Relationship
  These six tips for preparing to walk away from a relationship are inspired by a reader. She looking for practical and emotional advice on leaving a man she’s been with for years. Divorce – Think Financially, Not Emotionally: What Women Need To Know About Securing Their Financial Future Before, During, and After Divorce by Jeffrey A.… Read More »How to Prepare to Walk Away From a Relationship
• 9 Ways to Build a Life Outside Your Relationship
  No boyfriend or husband – no matter how awesome he is – is your reason for living. Here’s how to build a life outside your relationship, to help you step forward in joy and confidence. Love and peace. Hope and passion. Faith and freedom! In Finding Your Way in a Wild New World: Reclaim Your… Read More »9 Ways to Build a Life Outside Your Relationship
• 7 Signs He Wants to Be More Than Friends With You
  Are you reading him right? Here are 7 signs he likes you as more than a friend, plus 10 ways to know if he’s the right boyfriend for you. The best way to know if you should be more than friends with a guy is your gut feeling. When you’re thinking about being more than friends,… Read More »7 Signs He Wants to Be More Than Friends With You
• How to Heal Codependency in Your Relationship
  “Codependency in relationships” is the psychological term; this help for codependent relationships is simple and clear. Learn what codependency is (including the signs of a codependent relationship), plus real examples from readers’ comments. “I think our marriage is codependent but does that mean I should leave my husband,” says Sherry on 8 Signs He Doesn’t Love… Read More »How to Heal Codependency in Your Relationship
• How to Cope With Anxiety After a Breakup
  One of the biggest signs of anxiety after a breakup is a restless fear of the future. Here are a few ways to cope with anxiety after a breakup. You are worthy of being loved, cared for, and cherished by someone who will be grateful to have you! The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety:… Read More »How to Cope With Anxiety After a Breakup
• How to Cope When You’re Unhappily Married
  These ideas are inspired by a wife who asked for help on my “surviving an unhappy marriage” article. She feels hopeless and helpless, and just needs to know she’s not alone. Are you trapped in a marriage with a man you don’t love, who doesn’t love you? Do you feel helpless, scared, and alone? These tips will… Read More »How to Cope When You’re Unhappily Married
• How to Find True Love and Happiness
  These are the best tips on finding true love and happiness because they focus on choosing the right partner. Who you choose to love and be bonded to for the rest of your life is the single most important decision affecting your happiness, health, and whole future. Love Will Find You: 9 Magnets to Bring… Read More »How to Find True Love and Happiness
• How to Start Over After a Bad Relationship
  We get trapped in bad relationships because we’re scared of the unknown. These are the best tips on starting over after a bad relationship because they’ll help you move forward, despite your fear and uncertainty. OMG What A Mistake: Starting Over After A Bad Relationship is Mica Callaway’s account of how she started over after the… Read More »How to Start Over After a Bad Relationship
• How to Communicate Better in a Relationship
  Learning one or two simple tips on how to communicate better in a relationship can change everything! Here are 20 tips for better communication for couples, to help you improve your relationship and resolve conflict peacefully. Some of these communication tips are from a course on conflict resolution for couples, and others are from a… Read More »How to Communicate Better in a Relationship
• How to Get Your Ex Back
  When you’re sorting through the best tips on how to get your ex back, what do you try first? Here are the most important things to remember about getting back together after a breakup. If you believe getting your ex back isn’t as simple as an apology, read How To Get Your Ex Back –… Read More »How to Get Your Ex Back
• 5 Stages of Flirting – How Men and Women Flirt
  These stages of flirting in love relationships show that women usually make the first move, and men make the final move. Here’s what research says about how and why people flirt. Flirting sends signals of romantic interest between men and women who are attracted to one another. Flirtatious behavior is evident in the animal kingdom… Read More »5 Stages of Flirting – How Men and Women Flirt
• How to Go on a Marriage Retreat Without Leaving Home
  My husband and I are taking a marriage course, and it’s better than a marriage retreat! Here’s what we learned so far. This is your chance to go on a marriage retreat without leaving the comfort of your own home. Our marriage course is seven weeks long, on Sunday evenings at Lynn Valley Full Gospel… Read More »How to Go on a Marriage Retreat Without Leaving Home
• 10 Best Gifts for Couples in Long Distance Relationships
  The best gift ideas for couples in long distance relationships are thoughtful items that keep them connected. Couples in long distance relationships often have stronger bonds than couples in geographically close relationships; the best long distance relationship gifts help keep their love alive even though they live in different cities, provinces, states, or countries. Long distance… Read More »10 Best Gifts for Couples in Long Distance Relationships
• 10 Board Games for Couples
  I’m not a big fan of playing board games, but my husband and I were recently invited over to another couple’s house for “games night.” It was a ton of fun – and it inspired me to rewrite an article about board games for couples. One of the most fun games my husband and I… Read More »10 Board Games for Couples
• 7 Reasons You Keep Making the Same Relationship Mistakes
  If you look at your relationships, you’ll see patterns in your choices. Why do you keep making the same mistakes? Discovering the reasons you keep making the same relationship mistakes will help you break the pattern, and start making smart choices. If you already know why you make the same mistakes when you fall in love,… Read More »7 Reasons You Keep Making the Same Relationship Mistakes
• How to Break Up With Someone Who is Depressed
  Breaking up is hard to do at the best of times, but when your partner is depressed it seems impossible. Here are a few suggestions for breaking up with someone who is depressed to help you end the relationship gently. You can’t control how your partner takes the breakup, but you can take care of… Read More »How to Break Up With Someone Who is Depressed
• Why Women Are Addicted to Love
  Women are more likely to be addicted to love than men – it’s in our brain chemistry and wiring. A lot of it has to do with good sex – it is actually addictive to women because of how it affects our brains. “The work of Dr Daniel Amen in The Brain in Love…suggests that… Read More »Why Women Are Addicted to Love
• 5 Tips for Planning a Surprise Date Night
  My husband and I are talking the Marriage Course through Alpha International, and the first tip we’re implementing is “date night.” Nicky and Sila Lee call it Marriage Time, actually, and it’s about making time for each other every week. “Prioritizing marriage time is constantly the most difficult thing that we struggle to do, but… Read More »5 Tips for Planning a Surprise Date Night
• What to Talk About With Your Boyfriend
  Here are five ideas to help you know what to talk about with your boyfriend. Don’t just ask him “yes or no” questions about sports, his day, or his iphone – get to know him better. If you’re not good at asking questions that elicit conversation, get TABLETOPICS for Couples: Questions to Start Great Conversations.… Read More »What to Talk About With Your Boyfriend
• Dealing With Resentment in Relationships
  You resent your husband, but you want to stay married. Here are a few ideas for dealing with resentment in relationships, inspired by a reader’s comment. Don’t Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment, and Other Destructive Emotions by Pema Chodron will help you stay centered in the midst of difficulty, improve stressful relationships, and… Read More »Dealing With Resentment in Relationships
• How to Tell Your Husband You Want a Divorce
  Saying “I want a divorce” will be one of the most difficult things you do. These tips on how to tell your husband you want a divorce will help you be honest, yet kind. On How to Let Go of Someone You Love, a husband shared how his wife told him she wants a divorce:… Read More »How to Tell Your Husband You Want a Divorce
• 5 Things to Look for in a Life Partner
  These five things to look for will help you choose a life partner – because finding the right partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Your life partner is more important than anything because he or she affects everything you do. The right partner can make or break your life. A… Read More »5 Things to Look for in a Life Partner
• 10 Signs He Likes You A Lot
  How do you know for sure a guy is into you, and not just dating you until someone better comes along? If you’re still asking “does he like me?” after you read the 10 signs in my first list, you’ll find the right answer in my second list. The first list contains 10 signs he likes you; the second list has 10 signs that he does NOT like you.
• Why We Hurt the Ones We Love
  Here are two answers to the “Why do we hurt the ones we love?” question, plus practical tips for improving your relationship. If you want to stop hurting someone – or if you’re tired of being hurt – you first need to learn why it happens. Here’s what Liz said about her boyfriend, Benjamin: “When… Read More »Why We Hurt the Ones We Love
• 5 Reasons a Break Up Isn’t a Betrayal
  “I want to break up with him, but I feel like I’m betraying him,” she said. I think she’s wrong, and here are several reasons a break up isn’t a betrayal. A betrayal in a love relationship is when you lie, cheat, and steal. You promise your partner you’re faithful and trustworthy, but you’re lying.… Read More »5 Reasons a Break Up Isn’t a Betrayal
• What is Unconditional Love? Signs and Secrets
  These signs will help you understand what unconditional love is, and if it exists in your relationship. If you don’t feel loved unconditionally, then something has to change. And it’s not you. The only way to love someone unconditionally is to first learn how to love yourself unconditionally. If you struggle to love and be… Read More »What is Unconditional Love? Signs and Secrets
• How to Improve a Bad Relationship
  Saying “We need to talk” to your partner isn’t fun or productive. Here’s how to improve a bad relationship without talking about it – these tips may help you fall in love all over again. One of the most popular relationship improvement books on Amazon is How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It.… Read More »How to Improve a Bad Relationship
• 5 Ways to Avoid Rebound Relationships
  Rebound relationships are tempting for many reasons. Here’s how to avoid the mistake of a rebound relationship and create a clean slate with someone new. Here’s a great book to read:  Better Love Next Time: How the Relationship that Didn’t Last Can Lead You to the One that Will by J.M. Kearns. She describes how to… Read More »5 Ways to Avoid Rebound Relationships
• How to Live With a Broken Heart
  Does it seem like you’ll never heal after the breakup? Then you need to start learning how to live with a broken heart. Here’s what’s working for me, and how it can help you. My sister disappeared from my life eight years ago. I used to think I’ll get over it, but now I believe… Read More »How to Live With a Broken Heart
• 10 Reasons You Keep Choosing Unsafe Relationships
  Safe relationships are built on honesty, acceptance, love, and healthy ways of being. We want to be with safe people – so why do we keep choosing unsafe relationships? Here are 10 reasons women choose unsafe men, to give you insight into your life. What is an unsafe relationship? In an unsafe relationship, you can’t… Read More »10 Reasons You Keep Choosing Unsafe Relationships
• 6 Reasons to Stay Married
  If you’re teetering on the brink of divorce, here are a few reasons to stay married. This is not marriage advice for specific situations; it’s just a few things to think about. It may be especially helpful for couples who are looking for reasons to stay married. “It takes two to destroy a marriage.” –… Read More »6 Reasons to Stay Married
• Creative Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day
  Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be boring dinner and bouquet of flowers! Here are a five creative ways to spend Valentine’s Day. Creativity almost always involves an element of surprise. Think of the last time you saw a creative cake, book, or blog – it surprised you, didin’t it? If you want to be really… Read More »Creative Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day
• Living With an Alcoholic Husband
  These tips on how to help an alcoholic husband will help you face the reality of alcoholism and get the support you need. You can’t help him cope with alcoholism by yourself. In fact, there is nothing you can do to reform or change him. I updated and expanded this article: 8 Ways to Cope With… Read More »Living With an Alcoholic Husband
• How to Survive an Unhappy Marriage
  Unhappy marriages are more common than you think – but who wants to be common? These tips on surviving when you feel stuck and alone in an unhappy marriage might help you break free. I’m not necessarily talking divorce…I’m talking about learning how to survive an unhappy marriage. The Divorce Remedy: The Proven 7-Step Program… Read More »How to Survive an Unhappy Marriage
• Are You Struggling in a Marriage Without Intimacy?
  A marriage without intimacy isn’t a fulfilling relationship, and it’s not what you expected when you got married. Here are a few ways to cope with the problem of no intimacy in marriage. One of the most important things to remember when you’re struggling to increase marriage intimacy is that you need to stay focused… Read More »Are You Struggling in a Marriage Without Intimacy?
• 8 Signs He Doesn’t Love You the Way You Need to Be Loved
  Of course you need to be loved – we all do! But you also need to face signs he doesn’t love you anymore. Here’s how to know if your boyfriend or husband’s feelings have changed, and what to do in response. The sooner you recognize and accept that he doesn’t love you, the sooner you… Read More »8 Signs He Doesn’t Love You the Way You Need to Be Loved
• 5 Stages of a Breakup
  Learn what the stages of a breakup are, so you know what to expect after your relationship ends. The breakup stages aren’t linear, which means they won’t progress in a straight line. Rather, you’ll find yourself going back and forth, up and down, during these breakup stages. The five stages of a breakup are circular,… Read More »5 Stages of a Breakup
• 10 Ways to Move on After a Break Up
  After a break up, the worst thing you can do is hold on to the past. Here are ten tips for moving on after breaking up, to help you move into a new chapter of your life. How to Heal a Broken Heart in 30 Days: A Day-by-Day Guide to Saying Good-bye and Getting On… Read More »10 Ways to Move on After a Break Up
• How to Find Peace After a Breakup
  After a breakup, you’ll experience different emotions: anger, sadness, grief, depression, and even relief. These ways to find peace after a breakup will help you process those emotions and move on. I wrote How to Let Go of Someone You Love after I lost my sister. She’s still alive and well – as far as I… Read More »How to Find Peace After a Breakup
• 10 Fun Games for Couples
  One of the most fun games my husband and I play is mancala – it’s one of the first games of strategy ever invented, and has been played for thousands of years. Here’s why I enjoy playing mancala with my husband, plus nine fun games for couples. I love mancala because it’s easy to learn… Read More »10 Fun Games for Couples
• When Your Husband Wants Out of Your Marriage
  What do you do when your husband says he doesn’t want to commit to your marriage anymore? These tips are inspired by a reader whose husband is done being married. In Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends, therapist Bruce Fisher helps people get back on their feet after a traumatic divorce or separation. This book combines… Read More »When Your Husband Wants Out of Your Marriage
• A Child Custody Agreement: Equal Parenting Presumption
  Are you making child custody arrangements? This argument for equal parenting after divorce may help you come to an agreement that suits you, your ex husband, and your children. A presumption of equal parenting with rebuttal means children will continue to reside with each of their parents after a divorce, with both parents retaining physical… Read More »A Child Custody Agreement: Equal Parenting Presumption
• 7 Tips for Long Distance Relationships
  The good news about long distance romance is that couples often try harder to keep their relationship alive. These tips for staying connected in long distance relationships will help you stay strong and committed – even if your partner is halfway around the world. The Long-Distance Relationship Survival Guide by Chris Bell and Kate Brauer-Bell will… Read More »7 Tips for Long Distance Relationships
• 5 Signs It’s Time to Leave a Relationship
  Knowing when to leave a relationship is easy – unless you’re the one in the relationship! It’s always easier to see when someone else should leave a relationship. When it’s you who has to decide when to leave a relationship, it’s difficult. “When you love a man, he becomes more than a body. His physical limbs… Read More »5 Signs It’s Time to Leave a Relationship
• How to Know if Your Marriage is Over
  Are you going through the normal stages of a long-term relationship, or is your marriage finished? These 7 signs a marriage is over will help you see your relationship more clearly. “In my work doing marriage coaching, I have noticed that very often the turning point in a marriage is when a couple hits rock… Read More »How to Know if Your Marriage is Over
• How to Solve Relationship Problems Without Breaking Up
  You don’t want to break up, but you can’t live with things the way they are. These tips on how to solve relationship problems without breaking up will help you see your partner in a different light. In I Don’t Have to Make Everything All Better, Gary Lundberg and Joy Lundberg describe how to free… Read More »How to Solve Relationship Problems Without Breaking Up
• How to Forgive Yourself for Staying in a Bad Relationship
  You saw the signs, but you ignored your intuition and your friends’ warnings. Here’s how to forgive yourself for staying in a bad relationship for far too long. How To Forgive Ourselves Totally: Begin Again by Breaking Free from Past Mistakes by R.T. Kendall is a clear and compelling book that leads us towards the experience of… Read More »How to Forgive Yourself for Staying in a Bad Relationship
• 11 Emotions You’ll Feel After Breaking Up
  After breaking up with someone you love, you will grieve. Here are the most common emotions people feel after a breakup – and how to deal with the heartbreak of letting go. In You Can Heal Your Heart: Finding Peace After a Breakup, Divorce, or Death, Louise Hay and expert David Kessler discuss the emotions… Read More »11 Emotions You’ll Feel After Breaking Up
• How to Reconnect With Your Spouse
  Five tips on how to reconnect with your spouse, inspired by a comment from a husband. He is beginning to realize how much he neglected his wife during their marriage, and wants to reconnect with her. But, he’s worried that it’s too late. “I realized that I have neglected her a lot in our relationship,” says… Read More »How to Reconnect With Your Spouse
• How to Say Sorry to Someone You Love
  These five tips on how to say sorry to someone you love will help you reconnect with a partner, family member, friend, or even a work colleague. Knowing how to reconnect after an argument is one of the most important parts of a healthy relationship with anyone – especially someone you love. Often, knowing how to… Read More »How to Say Sorry to Someone You Love
• Getting Over an Affair – How Long Does it Take?
  While there is no set time for getting over an affair, these tips will help you figure out how long it may take to heal after cheating in a relationship. It may help to read as much as you can about surviving affairs, so you can see how other couples got over an affair. One… Read More »Getting Over an Affair – How Long Does it Take?
• Making Relationships Work – How Far Should You Go?
  Making a relationship work isn’t always moonlight and roses! These tips on making relationships work will help you figure out how far you should go. The healthiest relationships are very close to 50/50 or equal partnerships. If you do all the work in your relationship, then you need to stop. Unless, of course, you’re happy doing… Read More »Making Relationships Work – How Far Should You Go?
• How to Save Your Marriage After the Affair
  Unfortunately, there are no set rules on how to save your marriage after the affair because what works for one couple doesn’t necessarily work for another. These tips on saving a relationship are from wives whose husbands cheated on them. Here, I offer five pieces of advice from women whose husbands betrayed them by cheating… Read More »How to Save Your Marriage After the Affair
• How to Fix a Relationship
  These 10 tips on how to fix a relationship are both practical and romantic. Whether you’ve been married for 20 years or dating for a few months, you’ll find something useful in these tips for fixing relationships. In Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind – and Keep –… Read More »How to Fix a Relationship
• How to Get Over Your Ex Boyfriend and Heal Your Spirit
  These tips on how to get over your ex boyfriend will help heal your broken spirit, especially if you’ve tried everything to get over him. You’ll find something to help you here, in this vast article that is filled with valuable tips on getting over an ex. In Dumped: A Guide to Getting Over a Breakup… Read More »How to Get Over Your Ex Boyfriend and Heal Your Spirit
• 3 Ways to Cope With Another Failed Relationship
  Coping with relationship failure (especially if you feel like it’s another one in a long list, or it’s a breakup you didn’t expect) isn’t about “getting back in the saddle” and dating again. It’s not about home or full-body makeovers, learning how to end a relationship when you’re scared to be alone, or finding a… Read More »3 Ways to Cope With Another Failed Relationship
• How to Get Your Husband to Go to Marriage Counseling
  You need help saving your marriage, but your husband refuses to see a counselor. These tips on how to get him to go to marriage counseling will help you move forward. One More Try: What to Do When Your Marriage Is Falling Apart by Gary D Chapman is an excellent book to read if you know your… Read More »How to Get Your Husband to Go to Marriage Counseling
• How to Know When to Give Up on Your Boyfriend
  These three big signs you should give up on your boyfriend will help you see it’s time to stop wasting your time on a guy who doesn’t care about you, and start honoring and valuing yourself for who you are. If you’re asking if you should give up on your boyfriend, then I think you… Read More »How to Know When to Give Up on Your Boyfriend
• How to Get Over Cheating
  These tips on how to get over cheating in a relationship are from a family therapist who was shocked to discover her own husband was having an affair. If anyone knows how to recover from cheating, Vikki Stark does. Wife Abandonment Syndrome is a phrase she uses to describe how husbands detach from their wives… Read More »How to Get Over Cheating
• How to Get Over a Breakup
  There is no one best way to get over a breakup; what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. These tips on how to get over a breakup will help you find what works for you. In How to Let Go of Someone You Love, I remind you that the person you broke up… Read More »How to Get Over a Breakup
• How to Stay True to You When You’re in Love
  If you know how to stay true to yourself when you’re in love, you’ll build the relationship of your dreams. The healthiest relationships involve people who are true to themselves! The problem is that when we fall in love, we tend to mold ourselves into what we think our partners want. Do you have trouble… Read More »How to Stay True to You When You’re in Love
• What is a Healthy Relationship?
  The foundation of a healthy relationship isn’t sex, romance, or chemistry. Before I reveal what a healthy relationship is, take a few seconds to think about what YOU believe it is. What makes you think you’re in a healthy relationship? If you doubt your relationship is healthy, then what makes it unhealthy? Fighting a lot… Read More »What is a Healthy Relationship?
• How to Cope With Regret After the Breakup
  Feeling regret after breaking up is normal and even healthy – but how do you cope with it? And what if the breakup was a mistake? Here are a few signs to help you decide if getting back together is the right thing to do. If you believe the breakup was a mistake, read How… Read More »How to Cope With Regret After the Breakup
• When You Don’t Have Energy or Motivation to Work on Your Relationship
  The stress of everyday life is overwhelming – how do you find energy and motivation to work on your relationship problems? In the last three days, two women told me they don’t have energy or motivation to work on their marriages. Their relationships are so bad, they just avoid their husbands. “I leave the room… Read More »When You Don’t Have Energy or Motivation to Work on Your Relationship
• How to Know if You Can Trust Your Boyfriend
  Here’s the most important way to know if you can trust your boyfriend. This article was inspired by a reader who is struggling to know if she can trust her boyfriend, after she found him doing something she finds reprehensible. If you tend to choose the wrong boyfriend again and again, read Safe People: How… Read More »How to Know if You Can Trust Your Boyfriend
• How to Know if Your Husband Will Change
  Maybe your husband keeps promising you he’ll change – or maybe you just hope he will. Either way, how do you know if your husband will change his behavior for good? Here’s what a reader says on How to Trust Your Husband After He Betrayed You: “I left him three times in the past, I have… Read More »How to Know if Your Husband Will Change
• How to Cope With a Salary Cut
  Salary cuts aren’t reserved for government officials who earn six figures; they happen to wee people like us! Here’s how we’re coping with our most recent salary cut. I say “most recent” salary cut because the first one was about three months ago. It was significant. We just got the second one a couple days… Read More »How to Cope With a Salary Cut
• How to Overcome Disappointment in Your Relationship
  Here are a few tips on overcoming the disappointment you feel in your relationship, your husband, or your boyfriend. Feeling disappointed doesn’t mean your relationship is over, and there are things you can do to refresh your connection. I’m reading a lot of Byron Katie these days. In A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony… Read More »How to Overcome Disappointment in Your Relationship
• How to Recover From Broken Promises in a Relationship
  Broken promises not only destroy trust in your relationship, they affect your future relationships. These tips on recovering from broken promises are inspired by a reader’s comment. In I Love You But I Don’t Trust You: The Complete Guide to Restoring Trust in Your Relationship, Mira Kirshenbaum shows you exactly what to do to restore… Read More »How to Recover From Broken Promises in a Relationship
• How to Stop a Divorce
  Unless you’ve had personal experience with divorce, you don’t realize how devastating it is. These suggestions on how to stop a divorce are inspired by a conversation with a friend. If you can’t stop a divorce, you can learn how to recover and heal from the trauma. In Divorce: Overcome the Overwhelm and Avoid the… Read More »How to Stop a Divorce
• How to Get Your Husband to Want You Again
  Your husband looks at other women, online and in person. Here’s how to get him to want you again – and it’s not about increasing your sex appeal, losing weight or being a more attractive woman. In Passionate Marriage: Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships, Dr David Schnarch explores the ways we can… Read More »How to Get Your Husband to Want You Again
• Marriage Advice From a Wife Who Stayed Married Too Long
  Here are three important pieces of marriage advice from a woman who stayed in her marriage too long. Here’s she’s talking to an unhappy wife who wants to leave her husband: “Don’t let yourself get messed up like I did. I’m in my mid 60s and I don’t care about my husband or our marriage… Read More »Marriage Advice From a Wife Who Stayed Married Too Long
• Should I Give Him a Second Chance?
  Your boyfriend cheated on you, and now he wants a second chance to prove he loves you. You’re confused and scared he hasn’t changed. Should you give him a second chance? Here’s what a reader says, on 7 Signs Your Marriage May Be Over: “We were married for six months when he started cheating on me.… Read More »Should I Give Him a Second Chance?
• Signs of a Marriage in Trouble
  The biggest sign of a troubled marriage depends on the individual couple. For some couples, fighting is unhealthy – while other couples are at their happiest and healthiest when they’re venting their emotions and lungs. In The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference, Shaunti Feldhahn shares 12… Read More »Signs of a Marriage in Trouble
• The Best Place to Get Marriage Advice
  You don’t want marriage advice from your mother, best friend, or coworker. You can’t afford a marriage counselor…so where do you get advice from? Here’s what a reader wrote on my article about loveless marriages: “I need some marriage help and suggestions, I’m very unhappy with my husband. We’ve been married for two years and… Read More »The Best Place to Get Marriage Advice
• Forgiving Your Husband for Cheating
  Forgiving your husband after he cheated on you could be the most difficult thing you do in your marriage. But, difficult doesn’t mean impossible! These tips on how to forgive him are inspired by a wife who found out her husband cheated on her with an escort. Here’s what she says, on Should You Leave Your… Read More »Forgiving Your Husband for Cheating
• How to Cope When Your Ex Has a New Girlfriend
  You may feel surprised – and heartbroken – to find out that your ex is in a new relationship. Here are three ways to cope when your ex boyfriend has a new girlfriend. This is what K says on 5 Reasons It’s So Hard to Get Over a Breakup: “What hurts me the most is the fact… Read More »How to Cope When Your Ex Has a New Girlfriend
• How to Find a Husband
  Does it seem like you’ll never meet the right guy? Don’t worry – he’s closer than you think! Read these tips on finding a husband who will treat you like gold. This article is inspired by a reader whose boyfriend treats her like crap. She has to beg him for money to buy diapers for… Read More »How to Find a Husband
• How to Deal With Restlessness in Marriage
  If you’re feeling restless in your marriage, you may be wondering if you’re better off alone. These thoughts on dealing with restlessness in marriage are inspired by a reader who has been questioning her happiness. In Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, Harville Hendrix shares how to create a more loving, supportive, and… Read More »How to Deal With Restlessness in Marriage
• Why Are You Mean to the One You Love?
  Wives are mean to their husbands, husbands mean to wives, siblings mean to each other…here are a few reasons why we hurt the ones we love so much. Plus a tip or two on how to stop being mean. You may recognize yourself in this comment from a reader: “I’m 22 and have been with… Read More »Why Are You Mean to the One You Love?
• 12 Signs It’s Too Soon to Start Dating Again
  Here are a few signs you’re ready to start dating again. While there is no “rule” on when it’s too soon to date after a breakup, there are signs you aren’t ready. If you’re nervous about dating, read The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible. Not only will it help… Read More »12 Signs It’s Too Soon to Start Dating Again
• How to Cope With Relationship Doubt
  These strategies for coping with relationship doubt will help you through the worries, fears, and confusion that you’re feeling. It’s normal to feel unsettled about your relationship sometimes – but if you often feel doubtful, then you may need to re-evaluate. These tips are inspired by smart businesswoman and author, Lisa Bloom. Here’s what she… Read More »How to Cope With Relationship Doubt
• How to See What’s Wrong With Your Marriage
  The sooner you identify what’s wrong with your marriage, the better able you’ll be to save your relationship. If you can’t or aren’t willing to see what’s really going on (or WRONG) with your marriage, then you’ll never get your relationship back on track. The 4 Seasons of Marriage: Secrets to a Lasting Marriage by Gary… Read More »How to See What’s Wrong With Your Marriage
• 3 Tips for Accepting Your Husband’s Flaws and Weaknesses
  The only thing harder than living with and even loving your husband’s flaws and quirks is realizing that he has to accept your weaknesses, too. Hence, tip #1. But first, here’s what Elizabeth Gilbert writes in Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage: “People always fall in love with the most perfect aspects of each… Read More »3 Tips for Accepting Your Husband’s Flaws and Weaknesses
• Why Women Stay in Bad Relationships
  I discovered the most common reason women don’t leave bad relationships in a book about business, by Amanda Lang. If you’re stuck in a relationship rut, this may give you the boost you need. In Mr. Unavailable and the Fallback Girl: The Definitive Guide to Understanding Emotionally Unavailable Men and the Women that Love Them,… Read More »Why Women Stay in Bad Relationships
• When to Take Your Family’s Advice About Your Relationship
  Should you listen to your family’s opinions about your love life or marriage, or follow your heart? Here are a few tips on balancing your family and your relationship. I get a lot of comments from readers whose family members are too involved in their love lives. Lots of girlfriends and wives email me to… Read More »When to Take Your Family’s Advice About Your Relationship
• How to Find the Answers to Your Relationship Questions
  Here’s the best list of relationship questions I’ve gotten from a reader – plus my tips on finding the answers. “Dear Laurie, I am in a long distance relationship, and we’ve been together for only 4 months…sometimes doesn’t reply to my messages (his mom died a few months ago), and he is supposed to visit… Read More »How to Find the Answers to Your Relationship Questions
• What if My New Relationship Doesn’t Work Out?
  Love is risky, and the only guarantee you’ll be happy is if you accept the fact that your new relationship may not work out. Here’s how. These tips are inspired by a comment from a woman who is cheating on her husband, and scared her new relationship won’t work out… “I have been so happy… Read More »What if My New Relationship Doesn’t Work Out?
• How to Pray With Your Partner
  The power of prayer in marriage is more than “just” a spiritual connection with God. Praying with your partner can change how you see your relationship, and bring you closer together. If praying as a couple is new to you, read Couples Who Pray: The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman by Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt. The… Read More »How to Pray With Your Partner
• How to Stop Feeling Hurt and Stuck in the Past
  If you can’t let go of the past, here are a few ideas on how to stop feeling hurt and stuck in the past. These tips are inspired by a reader who can’t let go of her husband. In Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy, Francine… Read More »How to Stop Feeling Hurt and Stuck in the Past
• Do You Panic at the Thought of Leaving Your Relationship?
  These tips on how to cope with the panic and anxiety you feel when you think about ending your relationship are inspired by a reader’s dilemma. She has wanted to leave her common-law husband for six years, and says: “I’ve been in a serious relationship for the past 9 years; for the last 6 years, I’ve… Read More »Do You Panic at the Thought of Leaving Your Relationship?
• How Do I Make My Boyfriend Love Me?
  You can’t change him, but can you make your boyfriend fall in love with you? This is your chance to expand your life in a way you never thought possible. Read Make Every Man Want You: How to Be So Irresistible You’ll Barely Keep from Dating Yourself! by Marie Forleo. She describes how you can make… Read More »How Do I Make My Boyfriend Love Me?
• How to Regain Your Self-Confidence
  Has your marriage destroyed your self-confidence and self-image? Here are a few tips on rebuilding your confidence while keeping your relationship or marriage intact. Here’s what one reader – a doctor – says about her marriage, on How to Gain Confidence and Create Healthy Relationships: “I don’t feel he respects what I do and I… Read More »How to Regain Your Self-Confidence
• How to Overcome Your Fear of Living Alone
  The most common question I get is, “I’m scared to live on my own – how do I leave my relationship?” The answer is that you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Here’s what one reader says on 10 Reasons Breaking Up is Hard to Do: “I’ve been married for almost 26 yrs, I’m… Read More »How to Overcome Your Fear of Living Alone
• What to Do When You’re Confused About Your Relationship
  Relationships are confusing at the best of times – but when your boyfriend is sending mixed signals, it can be frustrating and mind-boggling. Here’s what to do when you’re confused about your relationship. These tips are inspired by a reader’s comment and question. “I have a boyfriend who I love dearly,” says Michela on How to Stop… Read More »What to Do When You’re Confused About Your Relationship
• Is This Grounds for Divorce or Do I Stay Married?
  Deciding if your partner’s behavior is grounds for divorce is often as clear as mud. Here are a few things to consider when you’re wrestling with the idea of divorce. This article is for the thousands of women who are wondering if they should leave their husbands. How do you know if your marriage is… Read More »Is This Grounds for Divorce or Do I Stay Married?
• How to Forgive Yourself for Having an Affair
  Your partner forgave you for cheating, but you can’t forgive yourself for having the affair. Sometimes forgiving ourselves is more difficult than forgiving others because of the shame we feel. Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go by Adam Hamilton and Rob Simbeck can help you forgive yourself for the affair. These suggestions for self-forgiveness are inspired… Read More »How to Forgive Yourself for Having an Affair
• A True Love Test – 7 Habits of Happy Couples
  Checking off these habits of healthy couples will help you figure out if you’re really and truly in love. It’s a “true love test” with practical signs of happy habits and strong love. Read True Love: How to Make Your Relationship Sweeter, Deeper, and More Passionate if your relationship lacks passion or depth. Bestselling author Daphne Rose Kingma… Read More »A True Love Test – 7 Habits of Happy Couples
• How to Get Your Confidence Back After a Breakup
  One of the worst things about breaking up is the loss of confidence you feel. These five tips for getting your confidence back after a breakup will help you regain your lost self-esteem, and learn to love yourself again. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance -What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and… Read More »How to Get Your Confidence Back After a Breakup
• How to Meet Someone When You’re Shy and Socially Awkward
  Falling in love for shy people…these tips will help you – even if you’re the most socially awkward person in the room – meet someone and fall in love. Dating for shy singles is often intimidating because love relationships – especially new ones – often require huge amounts of energy, time, and a certain degree… Read More »How to Meet Someone When You’re Shy and Socially Awkward
• 4 Signs of Emotional Distance in a Love Relationship
  Sometimes he is physically present, but emotionally distant. Here are four signs of emotionally distant love relationships, plus tips for bridging the gap. Emotional distance is characterized by a lack of an emotional, spiritual, or intellectual level connection with your partner. You know you’re disconnected when your partner just isn’t “there” somehow, when you no longer connect.… Read More »4 Signs of Emotional Distance in a Love Relationship
• 5 Signs You Should Break Up With Your Boyfriend
  Feeling insecure in your relationship is a sign it’s time to leave. Here are five more serious signs you should break up with your boyfriend. The longer you put it off, the harder it’ll be. “I am constantly anxious and angry when I’m with him,” says a reader on one of my most popular articles… Read More »5 Signs You Should Break Up With Your Boyfriend
• How Do You Know If He Really Loves You?
  Different men show love in different ways, but there are universal signs that a man is in love. Here are a few of those signs, plus a description of what “love languages” are. I’m reading You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay right now, and I love it. It’s about becoming a whole, health, happy woman… Read More »How Do You Know If He Really Loves You?
• Should You Date Someone Who Has Different Religious Beliefs?
  What if you’re Catholic and her boyfriend is Muslim – should you date a guy who follows a different religion? Interfaith relationships (and marriages) can be strong and happy, but they’re also a lot of work. Before I give you a few things to think about, I want to give you something to ponder: “I… Read More »Should You Date Someone Who Has Different Religious Beliefs?
• How to Propose to Your Girlfriend at Christmas
  What better way to say “I love you” at Christmas than with a marriage proposal? These tips will help you propose to your girlfriend without freaking out. A Christmas marriage proposal is particularly romantic because of the warmth, joy, and love the holiday season brings. Plus, family and friends may have traveled far and wide… Read More »How to Propose to Your Girlfriend at Christmas
• How to Give Your Boyfriend Alone Time
  In every relationship, there is one partner who always needs more space. These tips on how to give your boyfriend time alone will help you feel secure and confident when he retreats into his man cave. If you feel insecure and afraid when your boyfriend wants alone time, get The Self-Esteem Workbook. You’ll learn step-by-step… Read More »How to Give Your Boyfriend Alone Time
• How Teddy Forgave His Girlfriend for Cheating
  A betrayed boyfriend shares how he forgave his pregnant girlfriend for having an affair. If your girlfriend cheated on you, his experience may help you forgive and rebuild your relationship. When I think of affairs, I almost always assume it’s the man who cheated. After all, my most popular article is 9 Ways to Know… Read More »How Teddy Forgave His Girlfriend for Cheating
• Can God Heal You After a Break Up? How Spirituality Helps
  If you tried everything to heal after a break up, maybe it’s time to turn to God. Here’s how spirituality will heal your broken heart and revive your life after the end of a relationship. God offers freedom, strength, hope, and healing – but you need to spend time with Him. A devotional such as… Read More »Can God Heal You After a Break Up? How Spirituality Helps
• Why Do I Keep Going Back to Him?
  Q: I left him numerous times, but keep going back to my husband. I am 37 and have been married for 18 years. We have six children together. I guess I’m a complete co-dependant and domestic violence victim (verbal, physical, and sexual). I think my husband is very mentally unstable. I am staying at my… Read More »Why Do I Keep Going Back to Him?
• When You’re Tired of Making All the Effort in Your Marriage
  Q: I make all the effort to work on our marriage, and my husband doesn’t do anything. I am tired. I want to be cared for. I feel so lonely and unhappy. When we married four years ago, I went against my parents and my husband went against his parents. Recently he stopped caring about… Read More »When You’re Tired of Making All the Effort in Your Marriage
• How to Increase Emotional Connection in Your Marriage
  One of the marriage problems nobody talks about is the difference between physical and emotional intimacy. Until now! A reader recently asked this question about increasing emotional connection in her relationship with her husband… “I would like to talk and build more of an emotional connection, but my husband only wants a physical one,” says… Read More »How to Increase Emotional Connection in Your Marriage
• How Many Times Should You Forgive Your Husband?
  Q: I’ve been thinking of getting a divorce for the past six months. We got married July 10, 2011. We lived together for two years before. My husband didn’t tell me about a lot of debt he was in. I was very upset but I forgave him. Ever since then, there has been one financial… Read More »How Many Times Should You Forgive Your Husband?
• How Do You Stop Thinking About the Other Woman?
  These tips on how to stop thinking about the other woman are inspired by a reader’s question. He wants to get to a place where he no longer feels tempted to talk to the woman he had an affair with. He feels obsessed with her and wants to be with her more than ever before.… Read More »How Do You Stop Thinking About the Other Woman?
• Should We Buy a House or Pay Off Our $50,000 Debt?
  Q: My husband and I have been married for a month and we’re having a hard time setting financial priorities. We are trying to get out of debt – we have about $50,000 in debt right now – and we’d also like to start saving for retirement. We have tossed around the idea of buying… Read More »Should We Buy a House or Pay Off Our $50,000 Debt?
• Did I Marry the Wrong Guy? I’m Still in Love With My Ex
  Q: I got married 6 months ago and though I haven’t cheated on my husband and nor do I want to, I’m wondering if I married the wrong guy. I’m still in love with my ex. We were together four years and had way more connection then me and my husband do. I feel guilt… Read More »Did I Marry the Wrong Guy? I’m Still in Love With My Ex
• Why Doesn’t He Love You the Way You Love Him?
  A reader asked why her boyfriend doesn’t love her the way she loves him. She asked for help knowing what to do and taking the next step in her life… “We both caused great pain to each other and our relationship is probably broken, but I keep hanging on,” she says on When You’re in… Read More »Why Doesn’t He Love You the Way You Love Him?
• Should You Take Your Boyfriend Back?
  Here are several things to consider when you’re deciding if you should take your boyfriend back. You don’t want to make a mistake, but you also want to give your relationship a fighting chance! On 7 Lessons Learned From Unhealthy Relationships, Susan says, “My boyfriend desperately wants me back, but I don’t know if I… Read More »Should You Take Your Boyfriend Back?
• My Husband Had an Affair With My Best Friend – How Do I Cope?
  Q: After 3 years, I find it almost impossible to move on. My husband had an affair with my best friend, who I knew for about 15 years. She had been to all our children’s birthday parties, seen all our babies when newborn, been to our wedding and babysat a couple of times over night… Read More »My Husband Had an Affair With My Best Friend – How Do I Cope?
• 5 Signs You’re Expecting Too Much From Your Husband
  A reader who has been married for almost 10 years asked if she’s expecting too much from her husband. These signs of a “normal marriage” will help all women who wonder if they expect too much from marriage. In The 4 Seasons of Marriage: Secrets to a Lasting Marriage, Gary Chapman describes the recurring seasons of… Read More »5 Signs You’re Expecting Too Much From Your Husband
• How to Love a Man Without Losing Yourself
  Can you love a man too much? It depends how you define “love.” These tips on how to love a man without losing yourself will help you build a healthy, happy relationship. I’m reading How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage – it’s an excellent book that will help you identify what is… Read More »How to Love a Man Without Losing Yourself
• How to Get Over a Break Up and Accept That It’s Over
  If you’re getting over a breakup caused by a cheating boyfriend, maybe it’s time to surrender. Acceptance is the healthiest way to get over a breakup. If you accept your relationship is over, you’re free to move into a happier stage of life. Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the… Read More »How to Get Over a Break Up and Accept That It’s Over
• Should You Give Up on Your Relationship?
  Sometimes giving up on your relationship is the best thing you can do. Here’s how to know when to give up on a relationship instead of trying to make it work – these tips are inspired by a reader who asked for help deciding if she should stay or go. Deal Breakers: When to Work… Read More »Should You Give Up on Your Relationship?
• How to Deal With Guilt After Breaking Up
  If you initiated the break up, you may feel guilty that the relationship didn’t work out. These tips on dealing with guilt after breaking up will help you move forward. Whether you’ve been married for 20 years or dating for 2 months, guilt after breaking up with someone you once loved is difficult to deal… Read More »How to Deal With Guilt After Breaking Up
• 10 Eco-Friendly Gifts for Your Boyfriend’s Birthday
  Say I love you on your boyfriend’s birthday and get creative with these eco-friendly gift ideas. Your boyfriend will appreciate the unique-ness of these expressions of love! A luxurious, soft bathrobe such as Men’s Bamboo Bathrobe is a practical way to show your love on your boyfriend’s birthday. It’s plush and lush, yet useful. The best tip for… Read More »10 Eco-Friendly Gifts for Your Boyfriend’s Birthday
• Remarriage Wedding Vows Are More Meaningful Than First Marriage Vows
  Are your remarriage wedding vows less meaningful because your first marriage failed? No! When you get remarried, your wedding vows are are more meaningful than ever. Here’s what Michele (not her real name) asks: “I am currently divorced with a 3 year old daughter, and am 6 months into a new relationship (he is also divorced… Read More »Remarriage Wedding Vows Are More Meaningful Than First Marriage Vows
• How to Get Through a Break Up When You Stayed Too Long
  Getting through a break up is painful at the best of times; it’s worse when you stayed in the relationship longer than you should have. Here’s what Michelle (not her real name) says: “My boyfriend just left me. He’s been lying to me and seeing another woman the whole time we were together. I staying… Read More »How to Get Through a Break Up When You Stayed Too Long
• When You Don’t Want to Break Up – But He Does
  It’s the most common problem in love: you don’t want to break up, but he does. Do you pursue him, or try to move on with your life? “My boyfriend just dumped me for another woman,” says Tamara (not her real name) on What to Do When You Catch Your Spouse Cheating. “I found out… Read More »When You Don’t Want to Break Up – But He Does
• What to Do When Your Wife Isn’t Happy
  Your wife says she isn’t happy, and hasn’t been for years. How do you increase the intimacy and love in your marriage? Here are six ways to help your unhappy wife and boost her spirits. The most important thing you can do is tell your wife you love her, support her, and will do everything… Read More »What to Do When Your Wife Isn’t Happy
• Can You Fix Marriage Problems You’ve Had for Years?
  One definition of relationship success is having different problems today than you had last year. How do you fix marriage problems you’ve had for years? Here’s what Darlene says: “We’re being investigated for the second time by the state child protection services. One of my kids’ therapist filed a report, because he mentioned how Daddy gets… Read More »Can You Fix Marriage Problems You’ve Had for Years?
• Introverts in Love With Extroverts – Can Your Relationship Work?
  Introverts love to be alone; extroverts love to be the center of attention. Introverts and extroverts can fall in love – and yes, they can build a happy relationship. Here’s Lyn’s question: “Can introverts can have relationships? I recently was in a relationship and I felt my introversion was taking over. I wanted to be… Read More »Introverts in Love With Extroverts – Can Your Relationship Work?
• When You Find Out Your Dad is Cheating on Your Mom
  The one thing worse than finding out your dad is cheating on your mom is the thought of telling your mom about your dad’s affair. Here are some ideas for what to do when you find out your dad is cheating… Here’s what Chris says: “I found out my dad is cheating on my mom with… Read More »When You Find Out Your Dad is Cheating on Your Mom
• How to Break Free From an Emotionally Destructive Relationship
  These tips on breaking free from an emotionally destructive relationship are from a spiritual counselor who overcame her own fear of leaving. She teaches others to live in freedom, fully and deeply. I always feature books on my articles because I believe books can change lives. If you’re in an emotionally difficult or destructive relationship,… Read More »How to Break Free From an Emotionally Destructive Relationship
• How to Stop Doing All the Work in Your Relationship
  The healthiest relationships are very close to 50/50 or equal partnerships. If you do all the work in your relationship, then you need to stop. Unless, of course, you’re happy doing all the work! One of my favourite books about relationships is ScreamFree Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer. It’s not just for… Read More »How to Stop Doing All the Work in Your Relationship
• 6 Quotes From Martha Beck on Getting Over a Breakup
  Sometimes a short quote from a wise, experienced life coach like Martha Beck is more helpful than a list of tips for getting over a breakup. Here are six Martha Beck quotes to help you heal. Martha Beck is one of my favorite authors – and Finding Your Way in a Wild New World: Reclaim… Read More »6 Quotes From Martha Beck on Getting Over a Breakup
• Do You Visit Your Boyfriend in Jail After He Gets Arrested?
  Whether your boyfriend was arrested for unpaid parking tickets or assault, you need to decide if you should visit him in jail or walk away. Here’s what Alice says: “I found out my boyfriend was arrested about 10 minutes for not paying traffic fines – several, I guess. He was already on probation, which I… Read More »Do You Visit Your Boyfriend in Jail After He Gets Arrested?
• When He Says He’ll Change – But Never Does
  He promises he’ll change, but he never does. Here’s how to know if you should believe him and keep hoping for the best, or think about breaking up with him. Sometimes we need an objective guide, such as Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Decide Whether to Stay… Read More »When He Says He’ll Change – But Never Does
• When You’re Pregnant and Unhappy With Your Husband
  If you’re unhappy with your husband and marriage – and you’re pregnant – should you stay for the baby’s sake? Here are a few things to think about… Here’s what Desiree says, on my article about the warning signs of a bad relationship: “I’m not sure what to do. I love my common-law husband, we’ve… Read More »When You’re Pregnant and Unhappy With Your Husband
• How to End a Relationship When You’re Scared to Be Alone
  It is scary to be on your own – so you’re normal! Here’s how to end a relationship when you’re scared to be alone, but you know you need to leave the man you’re with. “I’ve been in the same relationship for 18 years,” says Nikki in response to How to Know if a Man is Emotionally… Read More »How to End a Relationship When You’re Scared to Be Alone
• How to Leave a Marriage When You Have Nothing Left
  Your marriage is in crisis, you have no money, and your future seems unbearable. Here are a few tips on how to leave a marriage when you have nothing. In Divorce: Think Financially, Not Emotionally: What Women Need To Know About Securing Their Financial Future Before, During, and After Divorce, Jeffrey A. Landers guides women… Read More »How to Leave a Marriage When You Have Nothing Left
• When You’re Tired of Trying to Make Your Marriage Work
  Here are a few tips for coping when you’re tired of trying to make your marriage work. You feel emotionally alone and disconnected, and are even wondering if you should leave your husband. I can’t give relationship advice, but I recommend reading Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You… Read More »When You’re Tired of Trying to Make Your Marriage Work
• How to Untangle a Codependent Relationship
  Whether you call it co dependency in love or a codependent relationship, the result is the same: two people depending on each other in unhealthy ways. Co dependent partners feed each other’s sickness and support each other’s unhealthy patterns of relating and communicating. Here, Dee shares her tips for ending co dependency in love – and… Read More »How to Untangle a Codependent Relationship
• When Your Husband is an Alcoholic or Drug Addict
  If your husband is alcoholic or addicted to drugs, you need to get help coping – in person! My heart breaks for wives who are depressed and sad because of their alcoholic husbands, and who feel trapped because they don’t have the money or support to leave. “I’m so confused, I love my husband very… Read More »When Your Husband is an Alcoholic or Drug Addict
• What to Do When You Feel Selfish for Wanting a Divorce
  Your marriage makes you very unhappy, but you feel selfish or wrong for wanting a divorce. Here are a few suggestions for coping with your feelings about getting divorced. There is no clear-cut yes or no answer to that question (“are you wrong or selfish for wanting a divorce?”). And, I’m a stranger who has… Read More »What to Do When You Feel Selfish for Wanting a Divorce
• When You Bring Out the Worst in Your Boyfriend
  Let’s face it – some people just bring out the worst in each other. If your boyfriend says you bring out his worst qualities, then you need to walk away. Here’s what a reader said on my relationship closure article – it’s a boyfriend talking about his girlfriend: “We started bickering at each other, then… Read More »When You Bring Out the Worst in Your Boyfriend
• How to Attract the Man You Want – It’s Easier Than You Think!
  Attracting the man you really want to be with is about being charming and irresistible – which is easier than you think, no matter what you look like! The first tip for being charming is to get on your own side. Why? Because… “We have to learn to be our own best friends because we… Read More »How to Attract the Man You Want – It’s Easier Than You Think!
• How to Stop Your Boyfriend’s Mother From Ruining Your Relationship
  Is his mom causing problems in your relationship? Here are a few tips for dealing with your boyfriend’s mother – and how to stop her from ruining your relationship. I was inspired to write this by a reader who loves her boyfriend, but is struggling with his family members. “My boyfriend’s mother controls everything he… Read More »How to Stop Your Boyfriend’s Mother From Ruining Your Relationship
• Why Good Relationships Go Bad
  Can you fix your relationship? It depends what the problem is. Here are four reasons good relationships go bad, to help you know if you can reconnect and get your love back on track. If you want to save your relationship, read How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It. There’s only so many times… Read More »Why Good Relationships Go Bad
• Is Your Boyfriend Lying? How to Find Out the Truth
  You have a feeling your boyfriend is telling lies, yet he insists he’s being honest. Here’s how to find out the truth and if you can trust him. These tips are inspired by a reader’s comment on my article about cheating: “My boyfriend went to a destination wedding with his family and there are photos… Read More »Is Your Boyfriend Lying? How to Find Out the Truth
• How to Know If You’re Ready for a New Relationship
  Here are a few signs you’re emotionally, mentally, and physically ready for a new relationship. Your breakup may be days, months, or even years old, and yet you still may not be ready to commit to a new man. The Soulmate Experience: A Practical Guide to Creating Extraordinary Relationships by Mali Apple and Joe Dunn will help… Read More »How to Know If You’re Ready for a New Relationship
• When the Man You Love is Getting Married
  You’re in love with him – and he may even be in love with you – but he’s marrying another woman. How do you cope when the man you love is getting married?
• How to Reconnect With Your Wife
  These tips on how to reconnect with your wife are inspired by an important question from a husband who neglected his wife for years: how do we reconnect and save our marriage? He wants to be happy with her again, but is worried that it’s too late. “I realized that I have neglected her a… Read More »How to Reconnect With Your Wife
• How to Move On After He Leaves You
  He’s not good for you, yet you can’t seem to move on after he’s left you? It’s time to pick up the pieces of your heart and rebuild your life. I wrote How to Let Go of Someone You Love to help women heal and move forward after a breakup. If you feel stuck and unhappy… Read More »How to Move On After He Leaves You
• 7 Signs Your Relationship is Worth Saving
  Should you try to save your relationship? These signs will help you see if your relationship is worth saving, or if you should call it quits. For more in-depth tips on saving your relationship, read How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving by David Richo. His tips will help you… Read More »7 Signs Your Relationship is Worth Saving
• What is a Healthy Relationship? 5 Signs of Real Love
  These signs of real love will help you learn what a healthy relationship is, and if your partner is good for you. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we wish for, we don’t see our relationship for what it is. If you’re confused about your relationship, chances are it isn’t healthy. Is it… Read More »What is a Healthy Relationship? 5 Signs of Real Love
• How to Live With Your Husband’s Anger Problems
  Dealing with your husband’s anger can be scary and difficult. These tips on how to live with an angry husband will help you figure out what to do and how to proceed in your marriage. “One of the prevalent features of life with an angry or controlling partner is that he frequently tells you what… Read More »How to Live With Your Husband’s Anger Problems
• How to Cope When Your Husband Walks Out
  Your husband walked out, and you’re picking up the pieces of your life. These insights will help you cope with confusion and hurt after your husband leaves – they’re from women dealing with the pain that comes with being abandoned. In Runaway Husbands: The Abandoned Wife’s Guide to Recovery and Renewal, Vikki Stark describes “Wife Abandonment… Read More »How to Cope When Your Husband Walks Out
• How to Trust Your Husband
  One of the questions I’m often asked: “I don’t trust my husband. Do I stay married or get a divorce?” These tips for wives who don’t trust their husbands might help you move forward in your life. In I Love You But I Don’t Trust You: The Complete Guide to Restoring Trust in Your Relationship,… Read More »How to Trust Your Husband
• How Salsa Dancing Can Help Your Love Life – or Hurt It!
  Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day to learn if you have “dance chemistry” with your partner! Here’s how salsa dancing helps your love life – and how it can can hurt your relationship. If you’re interested in salsa dancing and your relationship, check out the Learn to Salsa Dance Beginners Pack: The Complete Beginner Salsa Dancing Guide. The… Read More »How Salsa Dancing Can Help Your Love Life – or Hurt It!
• How to Trust Your Husband After He Cheated on You
  Forgiving and trusting your husband after he cheated on you is a daily effort – it’s not a one-time thing. These tips for healing your marriage when trust is broken will help you reconnect with your husband and rebuild your marriage. “My husband cheated on me with his coworker, who has since left the company,” says… Read More »How to Trust Your Husband After He Cheated on You
• 5 Habits of a Healthy Marriage
  Hunting for treasure and saving dolphins are habits of a healthy marriage, believe it or not! Improving your marriage can be as simple as talking about your daily highs and lows, or as complicated as learning effective conflict resolution skills. One of the absolute best ways to improve your marriage is to learn about your… Read More »5 Habits of a Healthy Marriage
• Advice From Wives Whose Husbands Cheated
  Here are five pieces of advice from women whose husbands betrayed them by cheating – some wives left their husbands, and others stayed to work on their marriage. “My husband cheated on me quite a few years ago and it still hurts,” says K. “My advice is for men who cheated on their wives: tell… Read More »Advice From Wives Whose Husbands Cheated
• 5 Signs of a Financially Independent Woman
  Whether you’re a married or single woman – earning $100 or $15 an hour – you need financial independence. Here are five signs you can take care of your money and your life. “Women need to develop a healthy, honest relationship with our money,” says financial guru Suze Orman, author of Women & Money: Owning… Read More »5 Signs of a Financially Independent Woman
• Before You Fall in Love Again – 5 Things to Watch Out For
  Before you fall in love and start a relationship with someone new, you need to get emotionally healthy. Even if you haven’t been in love for a few years – or if your last relationship was healthy – you still need to take your emotional temperature before you fall in love again. In Make Every… Read More »Before You Fall in Love Again – 5 Things to Watch Out For
• Help Do You Help Your Boyfriend Cope With Anxiety Attacks?
  These tips on helping your boyfriend cope with anxiety and panic attacks will give you ideas on how to support him. Men who struggle with panicky, anxious feelings may feel vulnerable and embarrassed. They may not want to talk about their feelings, which is why a book may help. These tips on helping boyfriends cope… Read More »Help Do You Help Your Boyfriend Cope With Anxiety Attacks?
• How to Convince Someone to Give You a Second Chance
  The bad news is that you broke up, but the good news is that many breakups aren’t permanent. Here are seven tips that will help you convince someone to give you a second chance. These tips for reconciling with your ex are inspired by a reader’s email.  “I would do anything to get her back, anything,” says… Read More »How to Convince Someone to Give You a Second Chance
• Why Doesn’t She Press Charges Against the Guy Who Abused Her?
  Learn why domestic violence survivors don’t press charges against the men who abuse them, in this summary of a jailhouse research study of conversations between abusers and their victims. In this article, I summarize research that explains why women experiencing abuse don’t press charges against abusive men. If you’re unsure what abuse is because you… Read More »Why Doesn’t She Press Charges Against the Guy Who Abused Her?
• When You Can’t Stop Loving a Man Who Doesn’t Want You
  Painful words: I love him, but he doesn’t want me. What do you do when you can’t stop loving a man who doesn’t care? Here are a few tips for women and unrequited love… “Sometimes I fight with myself to not text him or call him,” says A. on My Husband Left Me for Another… Read More »When You Can’t Stop Loving a Man Who Doesn’t Want You
• Do You Feel Insecure and Unsure in Your Relationship?
  If your relationship destroyed your self-confidence and self-esteem – if you feel insecure and unsure with your boyfriend or husband– check out these solutions. If you’re struggling with low self-confidence and a shoddy self-image, read So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us. It’s one of the bestselling books on building self-confidence for… Read More »Do You Feel Insecure and Unsure in Your Relationship?
• When You’re in Love With Someone Scared of Love
  Fear, insecurity, or a painful past relationship can lead to fear of intimacy. Here are a few ideas on what to do when you’re in love with someone who is scared to love you back. Here’s what one reader said about his ex-girlfriend. “I dated a great lady for 11 months,” says Steve on How… Read More »When You’re in Love With Someone Scared of Love
• How Long Do You Wait for Your Husband After His Affair?
  Affairs don’t necessarily mean your marriage is over. But, rebuilding relationships is tricky when a cheating husband needs time to get over his affair. In How Can I Forgive You?: The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not To, Janis Spring offers step-by-step, concrete instructions that help us make peace with others and with ourselves, while… Read More »How Long Do You Wait for Your Husband After His Affair?
• How to Argue Without Hurting Your Partner – A Therapist’s Tips
  Arguing with your spouse is normal – but being mean or hurtful isn’t! These tips for arguing without hurting your partner are from therapist Jeff Guenther, who practices in Portland, Oregon. “Years ago, I tried to top everybody, but I don’t anymore, I realized it was killing conversation. When you’re always trying for a topper you… Read More »How to Argue Without Hurting Your Partner – A Therapist’s Tips
• 4 Tips for Couples Who Have Different Personality Traits
  You’d be bored if your partner had the exact same personality traits as you, but you also need to be compatible. These tips for couples with wildly different personalities will help you connect and love each other for who you are. “I knew I was introverted – I scored 27 out of 29 on your… Read More »4 Tips for Couples Who Have Different Personality Traits
• How to Revive a Stale Marriage
  These tips for reviving a dry, stale marriage are inspired by a husband who wants to reconnect with his wife, but fears his marriage is over. “I have been involved in a affair for nearly 9 months,” says J. on How to Let Go of Someone You Love. “I ended it about 6 weeks ago.… Read More »How to Revive a Stale Marriage
• 5 Romantic, Creative Ways to Celebrate a Wedding Anniversary
  Need romantic, fun ways to celebrate your wedding anniversary – whether it’s your first or fiftieth? These tips range from painting a “wall of love” to sending your spouse on a jaunt out of town. “The most important thing is to express love in your partner’s love language – not yours,” say marriage and family therapists… Read More »5 Romantic, Creative Ways to Celebrate a Wedding Anniversary
• How to Grieve the End of a Relationship
  If you’re having trouble healing and dealing with a breakup, these steps to grieving the end of a relationship may help. They’re inspired by a comment from a reader. “I ended a four-year relationship and I’m so relieved,” says Chris on How to Get Over a Broken Heart: 20 FAQ From Readers. “He loves money,… Read More »How to Grieve the End of a Relationship
• How to Leave a Man Who Wants to Stay Together
  Do you know it’s over, but your partner refuses to accept it? Use these tips on how to leave a man who wants to stay together – you’ll find courage and strength! Here’s a reader’s dilemma: “I have been with my husband for 9 years and married the last two of those 9,” says A. on… Read More »How to Leave a Man Who Wants to Stay Together
• Don’t Feel Close to Your Partner? 5 Ways to Bring the Love Back
  You don’t feel close to your partner and you want to reconnect, but you don’t know how. Check out these five ways to bring the love back – you’ll be snuggling with your spouse sooner than you think! Before the tips, a quip: “Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she… Read More »Don’t Feel Close to Your Partner? 5 Ways to Bring the Love Back
• How to Move on After an Affair Breakup
  Some breakups are worse than others; affair breakups are the worst betrayal of all. These tips for moving on will help you heal after a breakup because of an affair. Forgiveness is part of moving on after an affair betrays. Read How Can I Forgive You?: The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not To by Janis A.… Read More »How to Move on After an Affair Breakup
• 4 Ways to Break Free When You’re Addicted to a Person
  Can you be addicted to a person? These tips for getting over “love addiction” are inspired by a reader who is struggling to heal after a breakup. “I just broke up with my boyfriend after a year,” says Jessica on How to Let Go of Someone You Love. “My heart is torn, I feel like my… Read More »4 Ways to Break Free When You’re Addicted to a Person
• 5 Ways to Say Sorry and Make Up After a Fight
  You screwed up? It’s okay – as long as you know the best ways to say sorry to your partner and make up after a fight! Knowing how to reconnect after an argument is one of the most important parts of loving someone fully and completely. “All married couples should learn the art of battle as… Read More »5 Ways to Say Sorry and Make Up After a Fight
• How to Stay Apart When He Calls, Texts, and Wants to Get Back
  You know it’s better to stay apart, but he keeps calling and texting! Here are a few tips for staying broken up even when he tries to talk you into staying with him. “I’m not happy with our marriage and I haven’t been for a long time,” says Z. on Relationship Breakup Advice – Help… Read More »How to Stay Apart When He Calls, Texts, and Wants to Get Back
• How to Make Your First Date Fun
  Nervous about your date? Scared you’ll say the wrong thing? Use these tips to make your first date fun, easy, and enjoyable for you both! If you want to attract the right guy into your life, read The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible. It’ll help you claim your feminine power… Read More »How to Make Your First Date Fun
• How to Show You Care – 5 Fun, Light-Hearted Expressions of Love
  Showing someone you care doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult – and it doesn’t have to be serious! These expressions of love range from writing bad poetry to kidnapping your sweetie for the weekend… “I man-napped my guy for his birthday,” says personal strategist Charly Emery, author of Thank Goodness You Dumped His A$$:… Read More »How to Show You Care – 5 Fun, Light-Hearted Expressions of Love
• How to Stop Loving Someone From Your Past
  Is your past haunting you? These tips on how to stop loving someone from your past will help you find the freedom to move on and be happy again. I Need Your Love – Is That True?: How to Stop Seeking Love, Approval, and Appreciation and Start Finding Them Instead by Byron Katie is one of… Read More »How to Stop Loving Someone From Your Past
• When You Feel Trapped in Your Marriage
  Are you trapped in a marriage with a man you don’t love, who doesn’t love you? Do you feel helpless, scared, and alone? These tips will help you stop feeling helpless and start making changes in your life! Here’s what L. says on 5 Stages of Leaving an Abusive Relationship: “I’ve been married for 34 years,… Read More »When You Feel Trapped in Your Marriage
• 5 Stages of Leaving an Abusive Relationship
  Are you stuck in one of these stages of leaving an abusive relationship? Here’s why it takes time to leave a man who is abusing you, and how you can get help. I also share some interesting research from Michigan State University about on how reading the book and watching the movie Fifty Shades of… Read More »5 Stages of Leaving an Abusive Relationship
• How to Fit in With Your Girlfriend’s Friends and Family
  If you’re wondering how to fit in with your girlfriend’s friends and family, you’re not alone! Many guys don’t feel comfortable with their girlfriend’s “peeps”, especially if their personality traits are different from their partner’s. Here’s a comment from one of my readers: “I’m an introvert and my girlfriend is an extrovert, with quite a group… Read More »How to Fit in With Your Girlfriend’s Friends and Family
• How Do Couples Get Rich? 7 Tips for Growing Wealth Together
  Knowing how couples get rich will help you and your partner grow wealthy together – and maybe even add some spice to your relationship! These tips are inspired by Lois Frankel, who has written several books on money, career, and achievement. Heed her words of warning: “The most foolish thing I’ve ever done related to… Read More »How Do Couples Get Rich? 7 Tips for Growing Wealth Together
• How to Stop Loving a Man Who Lies, Cheats, and Steals
  You’d think it’d be easy to leave a man who broke your heart, but it’s surprisingly difficult. Here’s how to stop loving a man who lied to you, cheated on you, and stole your heart. In I Love You But I Don’t Trust You: The Complete Guide to Restoring Trust in Your Relationship, couples therapist Mira Kirshenbaum tells… Read More »How to Stop Loving a Man Who Lies, Cheats, and Steals
• How to Be Yourself in Your Relationship
  If you learn how to be yourself in your relationship, you’ll be happier and healthier – and so will your partner. Women can lose their self-identities in their relationships and marriages, and not even know it. These tips for being yourself in your love relationship will help whether you’ve married for 5 weeks or 50 years.… Read More »How to Be Yourself in Your Relationship
• 4 Signs of a Control Freak
  Control freaks are so manipulative, you barely realize you’re being controlled! These signs of a “control freak” will help you see your boyfriend and your relationship more clearly. If you’re in a bad relationship and you’re ready to take back your life, read Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. You’ll… Read More »4 Signs of a Control Freak
• Forgiving Your Husband After an Affair
  Is it possible to forgive your husband after he had an affair and lied to you? Yes. It won’t be easy and it will take a long time, but truly forgiving your husband is the healthiest thing you could do for yourself, for him, and for your family.
• 5 Things to Think About Before You Reconcile With Your Ex
  It may be tempting to get back together, but reconciliation may not be good for you. Here’s what to consider before you reconcile with your ex. These tips for reconciliation are from Sydney Taylor Thomas, a guest writer who has personal experience with relationships and breakups. Should you reconcile with your ex? Sometimes the answer… Read More »5 Things to Think About Before You Reconcile With Your Ex
• How to Find Strength to Get Out of a Bad Relationship
  Are you stuck in a relationship that is going nowhere? Here are six tips on how to find strength to get out of a bad relationship. My first suggestion is to read On My Own: The Art of Being a Woman Alone by Florence Falk. She’s a psychologist with 13 years of counseling experience, and she helps women whose… Read More »How to Find Strength to Get Out of a Bad Relationship
• Forgiving a Cheating Spouse and Rebuilding Your Marriage
  If your spouse cheated, you can forgive – but how? Since forgiveness is easier said than done, you’ll need help forgiving and rebuilding your marriage. One of my faithful Blossom readers offered several tips on forgiveness in marriage, which I’m sharing in this article. Here’s the first one: “If you decided to stay married, you have agreed to forgive… Read More »Forgiving a Cheating Spouse and Rebuilding Your Marriage
• Socializing Only Children – 5 Tips for Parents of Onlies
  Socializing only children involves different strategies than parenting two or more kids. These tips for parents of “onlies” will help you avoid the stereotype of selfish, badly behaved only children. Proactive parenting can socialize only children so they receive the same benefits as kids with siblings — which is what these tips are all about. Before… Read More »Socializing Only Children – 5 Tips for Parents of Onlies
• How to Move on After Your Marriage Ends
  How do you move on from a broken marriage? It’s different for everyone…but here are a few things to help you cope, heal, and move on after your husband leaves. These tips are inspired by a reader’s comments. On My Husband Left Me for Another Woman, a reader described how her husband left her for a woman 21… Read More »How to Move on After Your Marriage Ends
• Want to Get Married? 6 Ways to Make Him Propose
  If you want to get married, you need to think about why. And, take a look at these ways to make him propose…they’ll increase your chances of getting married, and hopefully help you figure out if you want to get married for the right reasons. Before the tips, a quip: “Love doesn’t sit there like… Read More »Want to Get Married? 6 Ways to Make Him Propose
• How to Overcome Fear of Falling in Love
  If you’re scared to fall in love, you’re not alone! These tips on how to overcome love fears are based on the most common relationship fears: fear of intimacy, fear of rejection, and fear of abandonment. Before the tips, a quip: “I don’t wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone.”… Read More »How to Overcome Fear of Falling in Love
• How to Stop Money and Debt From Ruining Your Relationship
  Learning how to improve your relationship when you’re in debt as a couple may be the best thing you can to secure your future together! Here are six ways to build a better relationship despite money problems such as financial debt. “The idea that simply being more supportive is better for your marriage is a… Read More »How to Stop Money and Debt From Ruining Your Relationship
• Best Ways to Save Money – 5 Money Saving Tips That Work
  These “best ways to save money” are based on psychology research…so if you’re looking for money saving tips that are practically guaranteed to work, you’ve come to the right place! Before the tips, a quip: “Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen on the “gotta have it” scale.”… Read More »Best Ways to Save Money – 5 Money Saving Tips That Work
• What to Buy on Valentine’s Day
  These gift ideas for couples on Valentine’s Day will help you celebrate February 14 without getting sappy. Knowing what to buy on Valentine’s Day is a fine balance between romantic and strategic. The Ghirardelli Sentimental Chocolates Tower is one of the best Valentine’s Day gifts for couples because it contains an assortment of different types of… Read More »What to Buy on Valentine’s Day
• Valentine’s Day Getaway – 10 Tips for a Romantic Maui Vacation
  A Valentine’s Day getaway is a great way to say “I love you”! I wrote these tips for a romantic vacation at the Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas on the Kaanapali stretch in Maui. Before the tips, a quip: “The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.” ~ Stephen King. What do… Read More »Valentine’s Day Getaway – 10 Tips for a Romantic Maui Vacation
• 6 Christmas Spending Tips for Kids and Parents
  These Christmas spending tips for kids will help them buy the right holiday gifts with the money they have. And, the Christmas tips for parents will help them teach their kids about spending money at Christmas! These “money and love” tips are from Karyn Hodgens, creator of KidsSave — a unique kids’ saving program that puts… Read More »6 Christmas Spending Tips for Kids and Parents
• Why Declutter Your Home? Because Clutter Increases Financial Debt
  One of the best reasons to declutter your home is because the more clutter you have, the more financial debt you’ll accumulate. Clutter increases financial debt in several ways, says prosperity advisor Paula Langguth Ryan, author of Bounce Back From Bankruptcy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Back on Your Financial Feet. Here’s how clutter increases… Read More »Why Declutter Your Home? Because Clutter Increases Financial Debt
• 7 Signs of an Affair – How to Know If Your Boyfriend is Cheating
  If you’re wondering if your boyfriend is cheating on you, you’ve probably picked up on the warning signs of an affair. These signs of cheating may help you figure out the truth. “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge,” says Dr Phil McGraw. The sooner you figure out if your boyfriend is cheating on you, the sooner… Read More »7 Signs of an Affair – How to Know If Your Boyfriend is Cheating
• 4 Reasons to Wait Until You’re 35 to Get Married
  These reasons to wait until you’re 35 to get married include the downside of late marriages – such as the increased difficulty of getting pregnant and problems with past relationships. These reasons to wait include tips for happy marriages… If you’re struggling to find the right person, read Why Mr. Right Can’t Find You: The… Read More »4 Reasons to Wait Until You’re 35 to Get Married
• How to Get Her Back – 3 Steps to Making Up After a Bad Breakup
  Want to get her back after a bad breakup? These tips for making up with your ex are from the author of a book about keeping your woman happy. It is possible to get her back – depending on the steps you take! “No use yanking your chain,” says Linda Nilson, author of How to Keep Your… Read More »How to Get Her Back – 3 Steps to Making Up After a Bad Breakup
• Credit Cards Vs ATM Bank Machines While Travelling – Which is Better?
  When we travel, our big question is: “Should we use credit cards or ATM bank machines on vacation?” Here are the pros and cons of each, to help you decide with is best for you. Before the tips, a quip: “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you… Read More »Credit Cards Vs ATM Bank Machines While Travelling – Which is Better?
• Becoming More Assertive in Marriage – 9 Communication Tips
  Becoming more assertive in marriage is about effective communication; being heard and hearing. These nine communication tips can improve your marriage, help your spouse understand you, and help you understand him. The more understanding and acceptance there is in your marriage, the better your marriage will be! “Studies show that assertive communication can help build personal confidence, assist… Read More »Becoming More Assertive in Marriage – 9 Communication Tips
• 25 Tips for Fixing a Broken Heart
  These tips for fixing a broken heart are from relationship coach and psychologist Jan Hoistad, who has worked with couples and individuals for 30 years. “Know that a breakup is really letting go of a dream you had, more than letting go of a particular person,” says Dr Jan. “You will eventually set new goals… Read More »25 Tips for Fixing a Broken Heart
• How to Cope When Your Husband Leaves You for Her
  Saying or even just thinking, “My husband left me for another woman” is painful and heartbreaking – but trust me, you will survive! Here’s how to cope after your husband walks out. Here’s what one famous wife said when her husband left: “I’m not sure what the future holds but I do know that I’m… Read More »How to Cope When Your Husband Leaves You for Her
• 9 Signs Your Marriage Can’t Be Saved
  Studies show that 40% or more of divorced people regret their divorce. The majority of divorced people believe that one or the other of them could have worked harder to save the marriage.
• Should You Leave Your Husband? Help Deciding if You Should Stay or Go
  Leaving your marriage is never an easy decision. What steps should you take? Where do you go? There aren’t any easy answers or quick tips…just a long process of discernment and wisdom-seeking. It’s also important to remember that divorce will be painful, no matter how bad your marriage is. Talk to a marriage counselor or… Read More »Should You Leave Your Husband? Help Deciding if You Should Stay or Go
• Are You Ready to Fall in Love Again? Rebound Relationships
  How do you know if you’re ready to fall in love again? These tips for avoiding rebound relationships will help you make sure you’re ready for a new relationship…and maybe marriage…and maybe kids… If you’re struggling with dating and the single life, read Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate. This book… Read More »Are You Ready to Fall in Love Again? Rebound Relationships
• 10 Best Ways to Cope With a Breakup – Pamper Yourself!
  What’s the best way to cope with a breakup? Pamper yourself. Here are 10 ways to heal your broken heart, mind, and soul, and move on with your life. “From the first moment that you have the wind knocked out of you by hearing in one way or another that the relationship is over, you… Read More »10 Best Ways to Cope With a Breakup – Pamper Yourself!
• How to Be Yourself on Dates
  Do you feel like you’re “faking it” when you’re dating someone new? Here are five tips on how to be yourself on a date, from psychologist Paulette Kouffman Sherman, PhD. She applies the law of attraction to love and dating… In Dating from the Inside Out: How to Use the Law of Attraction in Matters of the… Read More »How to Be Yourself on Dates
• Thinking About Divorce? 4 Options for Unhappy Married Couples
  If you’re thinking about divorce, consider these options. These tips for unhappy married couples are based on a helpful book about deciding if it’s time to end a marriage. “My belief, partly based on my own personal experience, is that many of those who see marriage as a bond that can be terminated at any time… Read More »Thinking About Divorce? 4 Options for Unhappy Married Couples
• 5 Steps to Fixing the Biggest Relationship Problem
  The biggest problem in relationships is money, or financial infidelity. These five steps will help you fix the biggest relationship problem faced by all couples, and help you reconnect as partners on the same team. “Nearly every relationship harbors some level of financial infidelity,” say The Money Couple, Scott and Bethany Palmer, authors of read… Read More »5 Steps to Fixing the Biggest Relationship Problem
• 5 Puzzle Games for Couples to Play Together
  These puzzle games for couples will improve memory and strengthen your connection to each other. After all those discussions about finances, budgets, mortgages, kids, career, and family — you need to relax and have fun playing games together as a couple. One of my favorite games is Bananagrams, but I always get stressed when I play it.… Read More »5 Puzzle Games for Couples to Play Together
• 3 Tips for Talking About Money When You’re in Love
  Talking about money when you’re in love can be stressful, whether your relationship is three months old or 30 years old! These tips for talking about financial issues are from finance expert Carla Morelli. “Many couples are reluctant to talk about money – whether it’s one partner in the couple or both – and it… Read More »3 Tips for Talking About Money When You’re in Love
• How to Save Money for a Home – 10 Money Tips for Couples
  Knowing how to save money for a home requires some strategic financial planning. These ten money tips for couples will help you figure out mortgage rates, interest payments, credit scores, financial budgets, and insurance costs. Then, you can get busy feathering your love nest… “A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the… Read More »How to Save Money for a Home – 10 Money Tips for Couples
• Wedding Planning Tips For Engaged Couples
  Who better to give wedding planning tips than “The Money Couple”? These tips for money and love will help engaged couples plan their wedding – and help parents avoid spending gazillions of dollars on the wedding ceremony. The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner & Organizer: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions by Carley… Read More »Wedding Planning Tips For Engaged Couples
• How to Stop Lying About Money in Your Relationship
  If you find yourself lying about money to your partner in your love relationship, you’re not alone. Financial planners and marriage therapists are encountering financial infidelity now more than ever, because many marriages consist of couples with two incomes. Though 96% of North American couples believe complete honesty about financial issues is important, 29% admit… Read More »How to Stop Lying About Money in Your Relationship
• 5 Surprising Things That Affect Falling in Love
  Sometimes finding true love – a soulmate – is about fate. And, sometimes finding true love is about our innate romantic preferences or chemistry. These five tips for love relationships are based on scientific research that shows why we fall in love and who we fall in love with… “A successful marriage requires falling in… Read More »5 Surprising Things That Affect Falling in Love
• Cheating Versus Flirting – 6 Easy Ways to Tell the Difference
  Are you – or your partner – cheating by flirting? How do you tell the difference between harmless flirting versus emotional cheating? Here are six signs of harmless flirting, five ways to know if flirting is hurting your love relationship, and five signs of emotional cheating… “When a spouse places his or her primary emotional needs… Read More »Cheating Versus Flirting – 6 Easy Ways to Tell the Difference
• How to Find a Good Marriage Counselor
  Whether you’re looking for a marriage counselor because you need serious relationship help or a quick tune-up, you need to find the right one. These qualities of a good marriage counselor will help you find a therapist who is caring, kind, and helpful. In How To Save Your Marriage In 3 Simple Steps: Even If Only… Read More »How to Find a Good Marriage Counselor
• 5 Reasons to Make Up After Breaking Up
  One of the biggest questions a couple has after breaking up is, “Should I get back together with my ex?” These five quick reasons to make up after a break up will help you decide what’s right for you. “When love is lost, do not bow your head in sadness; instead keep your head up… Read More »5 Reasons to Make Up After Breaking Up
• How to Overcome Fear of a Relationship
  Are fears sabotaging your love life or marriage? Here are three ways to overcome three common fears in love relationships: fear of intimacy, fear of rejection, and fear of abandonment. In Love Me, Don’t Leave Me: Overcoming Fear of Abandonment and Building Lasting, Loving Relationships, Michelle Skeen shows readers how to break the self-fulfilling cycle of mistrust, clinginess, and heartbreak… Read More »How to Overcome Fear of a Relationship
• How to Make Anyone Fall in Love With You
  Is it true – can you really make anyone fall in love with you? You can be a more appealing person, but I don’t think there are special potions for “making” someone fall in love with you! But these seven tips will improve your chances of a healthy, happy love relationship…and you might even learn how the… Read More »How to Make Anyone Fall in Love With You
• 5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Memorable
  Planning a romantic, memorable wedding ceremony doesn’t have to break your wedding budget! These five tips for brides and grooms are simple, effective, and financially free. Here, Judith Sherven, PhD and Jim Sniechowski, PhD – the bestselling authors of four relationship books – describe how to plan the wedding of your dreams. “We know you want your… Read More »5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Memorable
• Premarital Questions – What You Need to Ask Before the Wedding
  You don’t need to ask all 65 of these premarital questions before getting married, but you should at least talk about these topics while you’re engaged. Don’t make the mistake of getting so wrapped up in wedding plans that you forget to plan your marriage. In Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married,… Read More »Premarital Questions – What You Need to Ask Before the Wedding
• What Music Do You Listen to After a Breakup?
  Music is healing. The right song can comfort, console, and even heal your broken heart. No matter how long you’ve been suffering or when you broke up with someone you love, you will find encouragement in this list of the best breakup songs. You’ll find a healthy mix of angry breakup music, soft soothing ballads,… Read More »What Music Do You Listen to After a Breakup?
• 10 Tips for Cooking for Your Date
  Cooking a meal together on your first date is fun and interesting, and can help you get to know each other on a different level than sitting in a restaurant! Cooking dinner together at home is less expensive, too :-) These tips don’t include a list of recipes or food suggestions for dates. Rather, it’s… Read More »10 Tips for Cooking for Your Date
• 9 Things You Never Knew About Diamond Engagement Rings
  From how to cut the world’s largest diamond to determining whether or not a diamond is real – here are 9 things you never knew about diamonds and diamond engagement rings. These facts about diamonds will help if you’re buying an engagement ring or investing in Canadian diamonds. Before the tips, a quip: “Love doesn’t… Read More »9 Things You Never Knew About Diamond Engagement Rings
• How to Prevent an Affair and Protect Your Marriage
  It’s better – and easier – to protect your marriage and prevent an affair than try to rebuild your relationship after infidelity. These tips for preventing cheating are from marriage counselor Gary Neuman. Neuman wrote The Truth about Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You Can Do to Prevent It, which describes why men are unfaithful and whether infidelity be prevented.… Read More »How to Prevent an Affair and Protect Your Marriage
• 13 Romantic Gift Ideas for Couples in Love
  The most romantic gift ideas for couples are things that say “As you wish.” Remember The Princess Bride’s Wesley and Buttercup? “As you wish,” was the most romantic thing Wesley said to Buttercup. He was honest and real – and that’s the most romantic gift you can give someone you love. These “I Love You” Pillowcases for… Read More »13 Romantic Gift Ideas for Couples in Love
• How to Date Without Getting Hurt
  If you’re tired of being single but you don’t know how to date without hurt, read these dating tips from relationship coach Mary Jo Fay. You’ll learn how to protect yourself while remaining open to the possibilities of a romantic love relationship. “In emotionally healthy relationships, things really aren’t overly complicated or difficult,” says Fay, author of The Seven… Read More »How to Date Without Getting Hurt
• 10 Ways Financial Problems Can Strengthen Love Relationships
  If you think money woes can only cause arguments and strife in marriage, you might be surprised to learn that financial problems can actually strengthen love relationships! Here, therapist Gilda Carle describes ten ways money problems isn’t a sign your marriage is over. In fact, money problems can make your love life better (and bring things up, not down)… “When… Read More »10 Ways Financial Problems Can Strengthen Love Relationships
• Personal Finance Tips for Couples – Creating Financial Abundance
  Whether your relationship is new or established, you want to create financial abundance as a couple! These personal finance tips will help you manage your money successfully, achieve long-term financial security, and maybe even retire early. Before the money tips, a quip: “I could write my own check, but I like him (husband) to give it to… Read More »Personal Finance Tips for Couples – Creating Financial Abundance
• 7 Tips for Healthy Relationships
  Research has revealed seven secrets for healthy relationships and marriages. Here are the tips, summarized from the results of  surveys and data from hundreds of happily married couples. If you’re struggling with an unhealthy relationship, read The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert. It’s a wonderful guide for… Read More »7 Tips for Healthy Relationships
• How to Know if Your Boyfriend is Unfaithful
  These hints and signs of betrayal will help you figure out if your boyfriend is unfaithful – and what you should do about it. Suspecting that he is betraying you is one thing, but actually accepting it is another. If you think your boyfriend is unfaithful, read The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags:… Read More »How to Know if Your Boyfriend is Unfaithful
• How to Protect Your Money When You’re Getting Divorced
  If you’re getting a divorce, you need to protect your money. These eight tips for protecting your financial health during a divorce will help you determine your assets and liabilities, and encourage you to focus on your financial future. For more in-depth financial advice for divorcing couples, read The Complete Guide to Protecting Your Financial Security… Read More »How to Protect Your Money When You’re Getting Divorced
• How to Emotionally Detach From Someone You Care About
  Here are five tips on how to emotionally detach from someone you care about. It’s a process, but learning healthy emotional detachment will help you retain a sense of yourself in your relationship. Being detached from someone you love doesn’t mean you’re closed off, aloof, or emotionally unavailable. It simply means that you love without expecting… Read More »How to Emotionally Detach From Someone You Care About
• Small Talk Tips to Help You Stop Being Shy on First Dates
  Are you nervous or shy about a first date? These small talk tips will help you keep the conversation going over dinner or drinks. These pointers aren’t just dating tips — they’re effective conversation starters for established couples, work colleagues, and casual acquaintances. Before the tips, a quip: “I mean, it didn’t matter to me that there were people,… Read More »Small Talk Tips to Help You Stop Being Shy on First Dates
• How to Propose to Your Boyfriend – Feel the Fear and Ask Anyway
  These tips on proposing to your boyfriend will help you say the most romantic, scary words on earth: “Will you marry me?” If I wanted to propose to my husband when he was my boyfriend, I’d do something fun and funny. Nothing elaborate or expensive – but sort of a lighter, more entertaining equivalent of… Read More »How to Propose to Your Boyfriend – Feel the Fear and Ask Anyway
• 6 Ways to Solve Problems in Your Relationship
  Solving problems in your relationship depends on the type of problems you’re having and how willing you both are to working them out. These tips for reconnecting with your spouse or partner can help you repair your relationship quickly and easily — but you have to remember that building a happy, healthy love relationship takes time,… Read More »6 Ways to Solve Problems in Your Relationship
• What is Relationship Closure? Healing Without a Goodbye
  Here’s what relationship closure is and why it’s so important, plus tips for healing and moving on after an unexpected loss or breakup. On one of my articles about breaking up (I’ve written many and many of them), a reader asked How to Get Over a Broken Heart when there isn’t relationship closure. She sees her boyfriend at… Read More »What is Relationship Closure? Healing Without a Goodbye
• 7 Easy Ways to Be Romantic
  My husband found an easy way to be more romantic at home, and it melts my heart every time. The simple way he shows love is number one on my list of romance tips below — which can help couples of all ages be romantic! These love tips are great for sweethearts who want to say “I love you” to new boyfriends… Read More »7 Easy Ways to Be Romantic