Gratitude journal.

Gratitude: It’s Good for your Marriage

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Contentment, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Listening, Marriage Health

‘Tis the season for gratitude, aka Thanksgiving. And traditionally, Thanksgiving is marked by gathering around the holiday table with family and friends. (And watching football games on television. While enjoying another piece of pie.) Hopefully, in the midst of all the food and fun, we take time to give thanks for our blessings. Because Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. But …

The holidays can put extra stress on your marriage.

Make the Holidays Easier on Your Marriage

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Connection, Contentment, Family, Get Marriage Dynamics finances insights to help couples tackle money challenges, improve budgeting, and build financial harmony.Finances, Holidays, Quality Time

Does your blood pressure rise when you look up and realize there are Christmas decorations out at your local big-box store, and it’s only OCTOBER?  And feeling pressure to catch the Christmas spirit does not seem to make the holidays easier.  Healthline surveyed more than 2,200 people and found that nearly 65% of people feel moderate or significant amounts of …

happy couple outdoors enjoying fall

“Fall” in Love Again—A Dozen Autumn Dates

Marriage Dynamics InstituteConnection, Date Night, Quality Time, Romance

It may be 95 degrees at your house, but the calendar says Autumn has arrived. And the change of seasons brings a return to some familiar rhythms of life. Because kids are back in school. Friday night lights are ablaze in cities and towns across the country. And pumpkin spice is absolutely everywhere. After the lazy days of summer, life …

happy male student sitting on steps holding textbooks

Surviving the Empty Nest

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Connection, Empty Nest, Reconnecting

The eighteen years or so that a child is at home are filled with all kinds of activity, and a wide range of emotions. And when that child leaves home—for college, or the military, to move into their own apartment or get married—the house may seem incredibly empty. If weekends have been filled with sporting events, dance competitions, youth group …

Couple talking - know your spouse

Communication: You Can’t Have a Great Marriage Without It

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Intimacy, Marriage Health

You can stay married – maybe even for a long time. You can raise happy, healthy children. And your life may appear successful. Others may see you and want what you have. But you know the truth. At home when all the kids are in bed—or grown and gone—and it’s just you and your spouse… are you lonely? Many couples …

Hand circling the word "facts" - choosing truth over marriage misconception

Don’t Let These Marriage Misconceptions Derail Your Relationship

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Contentment, Marriage Courses, Marriage Health, Patience, Uncategorized

Before getting married, most of us believe we have some idea of what makes a marriage successful. Consciously or subconsciously, we have formed opinions as we’ve made observations and absorbed information from other people, books, the internet, TV, or other sources. Unfortunately, some popular beliefs about marriage aren’t accurate. Some may contain a bit of truth, but they are not …

senior couple sitting on opposite ends of the sofa and looking to opposite sides

Gray Divorce-Older Couples Calling It Quits

Marriage Dynamics InstituteConflict, Divorce, Marriage Health, When Life is Difficult

Do you ever wonder why so many couples make it through twenty-five, or thirty or even forty years of marriage and then call it quits? “Gray divorce” usually refers to baby boomer couples who split up after a long marriage. And while the divorce rate in the United States has fallen slightly over the past twenty years, divorces among those …

picture of a cake with happy anniversary written on top

Anniversary Celebration Ideas

Marriage Dynamics InstituteMarriage Health, Quality Time, Romance, Weddings

How do you and your spouse like to celebrate your anniversary? Could you use some fresh anniversary celebration ideas? You don’t have to spend a lot of money or make every anniversary a huge event. Sometimes that’s not possible or even appropriate. But committing yourself to another person for life is a big deal, and your marriage is worth celebrating. …

The Gift of a Strong Marriage (Part 1) — Fulfillment

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Communication, Contentment, Intimacy, Listening, Marriage Health, Patience, Quality Time, Selfishness

People get married for lots of reasons. But according to a telephone survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the number one reason people marry is love. Shocker. Reasons two and three are also unremarkable. People marry because they want to make a lifelong commitment. And they marry for companionship. No surprises there. Human beings are created in the image …

Four Ways to Support Your Spouse in Tough Times

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Listening, Marriage Health, When Life is Difficult

Ever been caught unexpectedly in a severe storm? There aren’t many things more terrifying. Even if you are not physically harmed by the wind or high water, the long term after-effects of a major storm can derail your life as you deal with damage to home and property. Forbes recently published a list of some of the worst storms ever …