What You Need to Know About Bids for Connection
If you want any relationship to feel better, you need to know about bids for connection. A bid for connection is anything a person does to spark a positive feeling with another. It might be obvious – like a hug, a handshake and a smile. Or it might be subtleRead More
3 Action Steps to Boost Your Happiness in Relationships
Our culture bombards us with messages about how to find happiness in relationships. Media show smiling parents, laughing children, and romantic partners basking in the glow of love. You don’t have to buy what they are selling. Love and friendship thrive on actions you can learn. Here are 3 science-basedRead More
11 Important Signs Of Trust In a Relationship
You could say a close relationship depends on trust. To feel close, you need to open your inner world — your thoughts and feelings — to another person. You have to trust your partner to care about how you feel and to respond. As you find your partner cares aboutRead More
How Secure Attachment Makes Relationships Work Better
Have you ever looked at a loved one’s photo and felt happy? After sharing a problem with someone who understands, did a wave of peace and calm wash over you? You might enjoy such feelings because of a special emotional bond called secure attachment. “A secure bond is…. a vitalRead More
How Eye Contact Can Make You Feel Loved — Or Not
Eye contact in relationships has a huge impact on making you feel loved — or not. When love is new, eye contact can be spine-tingling and exhilarating. “When we gaze into each other’s eyes, we are looking at somebody who isn’t predictable. We’re reminded we don’t really know them fully,Read More
Do You Hide Personal Problems From Your Spouse?
Do you hide personal issues you’re facing from your partner? You might want to protect your loved one from worrying too much. But there’s a risk to your partnership in keeping too much of your inner world to yourself. Let me explain with a quick story. I worked with oneRead More
This is How the Happiest Couples Put Their Relationship first
Modern life puts a great deal of pressure our relationships. Does this sound like you? You struggle to balance work, family and “me” time. You scramble to keep up with loved ones, friends and colleagues. Maybe you’re juggling childcare, elder care, house care, health concerns or car problems. You wonderRead More
How You Can Be Imperfect AND be a Great Parent
A huge challenge for parents is knowing how help when children make mistakes. A parent’s support, especially when things don’t go well, fosters the self-worth and self-compassion it takes to learn from what happened. I recently watched my brother coach his kids on riding new curved walls on their skateboards. There wereRead More
How to Save Your Parent-Child Connection from Technology
Touch, eye contact, and physical play feel good. They are the building blocks of parent-child connection. What’s more, they nurture our brains, hearts, and disease-fighting systems. They help us build secure relationships. Many parents see the value of helping children learn to use technology. They want to stay in touch,Read More
How to Boost Confidence in Kids as an Emotionally Engaged Dad
You may have heard that emotionally responsive parents are important to a child’s wellbeing. What does being a good dad look like to you? Our culture idolizes a tough man who doesn’t crack under pressure. Anger seems to be the most acceptable emotion to show. What did you see growingRead More