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 separated by wall - criticism

Criticism: An Enemy of Intimacy – Part 1

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Marriage Health, Uncategorized

The words we speak are powerful. You may be familiar with an illustration about bullying that has been widely circulated around the internet. A teacher instructed her students to take a piece of paper and crumple it, stomp on it, and really mess it up—everything short of ripping it. Then, she had them unfold the paper and try to smooth …

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, …

Woman rejects man's gift of a plastic heart - different love language

Are You and Your Spouse Speaking Different Love Languages?

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Marriage Health, Romance, Uncategorized

Do you have trouble understanding what your spouse needs to feel loved? As soon as we were old enough to understand it, most of us were probably taught some version of “Do unto others as you’d have done to you.” The Golden Rule, as we call it, is a wise biblical principle to keep in mind as we deal with …

Basketball net - 7 Tips to Survive March Madness

Seven Tips to Help You Survive March Madness Together

MattQuality Time, Uncategorized

Can love and basketball coexist? If you’ve seen the 2000 romantic movie Love & Basketball, you’d think so. The film, starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps, shares the story of neighbors who pursue basketball careers and eventually fall in love. But in the middle of March, it may seem like the challenge is too much to overcome. They call it …