💛 Here’s how you can set realistic expectations in your marriage.

💔 NEW QUIZ: Can Your Marriage Survive?

😞 How can you handle the hurt you feel when your spouse talks badly behind your back?

🔥 If your spouse has a lower sex drive, here’s your guide to intimacy.

🛡️ Wondering if your marriage needs trust & how you can improve yours? Look no further.

have more effective communication in your marriage

What are the keys to effective communication? Well, research on what makes marriage work shows that happy and healthy couples have a ratio of 5:1 positive to negative behaviors in their relationship.

This means there are five times as many positive interactions between happy couples (i.e. listening, validating the other person, using soft words, expressing appreciation, affirmation, physical affection, compliments, etc.) as there are negative(i.e. raising one’s voice, stating a complaint, or expressing one’s anger).

Tips for improving the effectiveness of communication in your relationship:

☑️ Be intentional about spending time together.

☑️ Use more “I” statements and less “You” statements.

☑️ Be specific.

☑️ Avoid mind-reading.

☑️ Express negative feelings constructively.

☑️ Listen without being defensive.

☑️ Freely express positive feelings.

Improving your skills is great for your relationship!

handling toxic family members

Have you ever noticed that every time you leave a certain family member’s presence, you feel worse than you did before you saw them?

Have you ever noticed that your aunt gossips all the time?

Or that your in-laws criticize your every move?

Or that your own parents are more controlling now than ever?

And what about that uncle who doesn’t care what you’re doing—he thinks it’s okay to show up whenever he wants.

Toxic family members make your head hurt. They are poisonous to your health. They can drain you emotionally every time they are around.

How do you recognize toxic family members?

• When you leave their presence, you often feel worse than you did before.
• They want to control your life. They tell you the decisions you should make, how you should spend your money, and the people you should be friends with.
• You feel that they seem to always criticize you—your parenting, your cooking, your house management, anything and everything.
• They may be physically, verbally, or emotionally abusive.
• They always “need” you to come to their rescue.

It’s important to deal with the toxicity. Your mental and emotional health—and maybe even your physical health—can depend on it.