Happily Ever After is Just the Beginning

Are you searching for happiness in your life? Do you think that finding “the one” and building a life with them is the answer? Do you believe that if you’re not happy then your marriage is the reason? Dr. Corey Allan, marriage counselor and author of Naked Marriage sheds light on what marriage is really about and how it can be part of your recipe for happiness. Send your comments and suggestions t...

No, men aren’t from Mars and women aren’t from Venus. It just seems that way. I’ve always thought that expecting men and women to live together is a cosmic joke that really isn’t funny. Nowhere is this more apparent than when it comes to sex. Are all men constantly horny? Are women rarely that way? No. But if you don’t understand how desire works for each of you, the joy of sex is a pleasure that...

Having a successful marriage is a balancing act, much like riding a bicycle. You must develop the ability to even out the pull between keeping yourself separate and disappearing into togetherness. This is the biggest challenge to marriage that there is. But, much like riding a bike, once you get a feel for that balance, maintaining it becomes relatively effortless. The key to finding this equilibr...

One of the biggest reasons people choose to marry is to have a family. What most don’t realize is that the very family they long for puts their marriage at risk. Among all the information expecting parents get, there is very little about how to prepare their relationship for the invasion they are about to encounter. Add in the worry about being good parents that most of us feel when handed our bun...

Who do you think is at greater risk for divorce—a recently married couple who just had their first baby or a couple who has made it over 25 years whose children have just left the nest? While they are both at high risk, it is actually the empty nesters who are more likely to divorce. In fact, the rate of divorce is much greater for the over 50 crowd than for any other age group. You might think th...

The key to a successful marriage is choosing your partner wisely. Unfortunately, this process is often hijacked by raw, animal sexual attraction. This often leads to great sex but not so great relationships. Yes, finding your spouse physically appealing is a plus. It’s just not enough to build a life on. It actually helps if you like the person you’re married to. Health and Wellness Coach and auth...

In a word, yes. But not in the way most people think. A popular view of a Soul Mate is someone who immediately knows everything about you without you saying a word. It is a belief that, if you can just find your perfect match, all your hurts will be healed and your life will be smooth and carefree. But as Charles F. Glassman said, “Before you find your soul mate, you must first discover your soul....

One of the saddest comments I hear from couples is that they feel more like roommates than lovers. Many believe that this is the inevitable result of years of togetherness. In reality, it is the result of the choices each of you make day after day, year after year. Love doesn’t have to die but it will if it is neglected. When everything else becomes more important than your marriage, its premature...

You might remember this famous line from the book and movie Love Story—“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” You might even want to believe it because apologizing can be really awkward. And, besides, your partner knows you didn’t mean it and that you really love them. NOPE! When you can’t or don’t apologize it often leaves a rift in your relationship. Over time, and with fewer apologies,...

Do you believe your partner can make you mad? Do you think your partner is responsible for most of the arguments you have? If you do, you might feel tempted to retaliate. But that only ends up making things worse. Relationship coaches and authors Dr. Ruth Schwartz and Dr. Michelle Murrain share their SCORE process for dealing with your strong emotions without damaging your marriage. Send your comm...

Did actually getting married doom Brangelina? Is it too much pressure for any two people to actually live “happily ever after”? If you think expecting two such different creatures as a man and a woman to maintain a strong, successful relationship through the years is a cosmic joke, this is the show for you. Matt Fray, author and creator of Must Be This Tall to Ride ( https://mustbethistalltoride.c...

Have you ever said that you would do anything for your children? Are they your number 1 priority? If you answered yes to both those questions, you’re like a majority of American parents. You also have op-positional positions. Yes, your children are important, but if you really want to give them the best possible life, you need to reorder your priorities. Mike Berry, family consultant and the autho...

There’s a saying that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is one definition of insanity. But that’s what many people do when they are having difficulty in their marriages. They talk more. They complain more. They fight more. They blame more. You get the drill. But, what if the answer to having a better marriage is to do less. Well, actually, to do something di...

Dreams of the perfect wedding are imagined for years before the event ever occurs. Lots of time, energy and resources are devoted to creating this special day once it enters the realm of reality. But did you even a tenth of the time thinking about and planning your marriage? If you’re like most people, the answer is no. Maybe it’s because thinking about a lifetime together is harder to get your he...

I get asked all the time about what it takes to have a great marriage. The number one answer to this question is to pay attention to it. If you don’t make specific time to spend together as a couple, your relationship will drift off course and, eventually, run aground. An easy way to stay connected is to have a regularly scheduled date night. This needs to be more than a run-of-the-mill dinner and...

Do you and your partner get sidetracked because you start arguing over how one of you said something? Have you ever been able to convince the other one that their tone was the problem? Have you ever heard the expression “Presentation is everything?” One of the biggest factors in the success of your marriage is how you communicate with each other. If you struggle with conflict or problem solving in...

Most couples marry because they love each other but don’t often think about what that means past their wedding day. Is being in love truly more important to a good marriage than really loving each other? Do you love your partner unconditionally or do you love with strings attached? Are your words of love backed up by loving behavior? Having the answers to these questions can mean the difference be...

Most of us don’t know what we don’t know about marriage. How can we? With divorce being commonplace and the number of marriages diminishing, where are we supposed to learn? There is no Marriage 101 offered in school, though maybe there should be. If you think that love is all you need, then Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin may just surprise you. He is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the author...

In theory, there is nothing wrong with a happy wife. The problem is thinking it is the key to a happy life. A relationship is a function of the two people in it. If the focus of that relationship is on just one of the participants, you are doing long term damage to the relationship. Rick Fortier, author and observer of life, is here to talk about why this is so and how you can bring the balance ba...

When you think of the word ‘marriage’, what comes to mind? That it’s hard. That it takes work. That love is all you need. That it’s where sex goes to die. That you have to give up being who you are. That it can’t last. Maybe you can think of others. You might have these ideas because of personal experience or you may have just heard them often enough that you accept them as true. Linda and Charlie...

If you work for yourself, you most likely have a business plan, even if it’s only loose one. If you work for someone else, you probably have set performance goals. But when it comes to your marriage, you’re probably rudderless—no set goals, maybe not even a general direction. This can spell doom for the long-term health and happiness of this very important relationship. Michael J. Russer, internat...

Reports about abuse are everywhere—physical, sexual, emotional, etc. It touches the lives of everyone—sports stars, entertainers, your neighbors, maybe even you. The impact is far-reaching. No matter when it happens, it can have a continuing effect on you and your relationships. The good news is, you don’t have to let it rule your life and ruin your relationships. It’s also important to know that...

We’re a nation of comparers. Do our job, house, kids, marriage stack up against our friends’, family’s, co-workers’? Unfortunately, most of us are comparing our reality to other people’s highlight reels. The question isn’t how we fare against others, but how content am I with my life? People get married for all kinds of reasons but mostly because they have found someone they want to build a life w...

Love and marriage…goes together like a horse and carriage. Or so the old song says. And for many people, the idea of marriage is just as old. But there is a reason why marriage is still here and over 90% of millennials still say they want it. Maybe, you’re one of those people who still sees value in marriage as an institution. Bill Eddy ( http://www.highconflictinstitute.com/) , therapist, attorne...

In the age of The Bachelor and Keeping Up with the Kardashians it’s no wonder that people have a really skewed view of love and marriage. No, drama, tears, yelling and the silent treatment aren’t signs of true love. In fact, they are warning signs that your relationship is headed for a cliff. They also are emotionally exhausting and love isn’t supposed to feel that way. Couples therapist Dr. Becca...