time-out

Time-Out: Not Just for Teams and Toddlers!

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Connection

When was the last time you called time-out? Perhaps your team needed to regroup before a big play. Or your toddler refused to follow directions. Are there times when conversation with your spouse starts as a discussion but turns into a heated argument? Maybe you found yourself thinking. “Somebody needs to call time-out.” Relationship expert John Gottman suggests how a …

Is Criticism Getting in the Way of Intimacy in Your Marriage?

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Criticism, Goals, Intimacy, Listening, Romance

No marriage is perfect. And if we are honest, sometimes we all wish our spouse would speak or behave differently. In a healthy relationship, a husband and wife can communicate these irritations or frustrations in ways that don’t tear each other down. When there is mutual love and respect, such conversations can bring about positive results. By comparison, when spouses …

Couple blaming each other - defensiveness

Is Your Defensiveness Hurting Your Marriage?

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Marriage Health, Uncategorized

Defensiveness is a natural reaction. Everyone has heard a cat hiss or a dog growl when they sense a threat. Maybe you’ve even been the unfortunate victim of a skunk’s smelly defense mechanism. The Indonesian mimic octopus has quite an impressive defense system. This remarkable creature fools potential predators by impersonating other animals or objects. It can change its shape, …