💪 Top 10 Strengths of Happy Marriages

🥰 4 Things to Know About Emotional Safety

👀 Do You Have Realistic Expectations for Your Marriage?

🤝 What Does Trust Look Like in a Healthy Marriage?

💃 Why Date Night Matters

how to find good relationship advice

The internet gives us ENDLESS information on relationships. Just Google how to resolve conflict in marriage or how to parent a rebellious teenager. Then watch TONS of articles, blogs, videos, how-tos, and step-by-steps fill your screen. It’s overwhelming. 

And here’s the thing: can they all possibly be right? I mean, with literally thousands of resources out there on any given relationship subject, there’s got to be some conflicting information and something that’s not accurate. (As a matter of fact, there is.)

★ So when you and I are trying to get help in the area of healthy relationships, how do we know what kind of information to trust? How do you wade through the countless sources of information on your screen and determine which advice is legit?

Here’s Some Helpful Pointers to Identify Reliable Relationship Advice: 

• Understand that relationships are something that’s actually researched.
• On the flip side of the coin… know that just because the word “research” shows up doesn’t always mean it’s great advice.
• All this goes to say, of course, to consider the source.
• Prepare to do a little digging.
• Be cautious with sources that seem to run against the grain of what we already know to be healthy in relationships.
• Understand how easy it is to find information that supports your current view and quickly rest your case.

3 skills for managing conflict in marriage

So, how can you keep seemingly minor issues from becoming major areas of conflict in your marriage? Parents teach their kids to stop, look and listen before crossing the street. But believe it or not, this is a really useful skill for managing conflict.

Stop.
Before launching into a lecture or hissy fit, consider these things. Ask yourself if what you are about to say or do will be helpful to your relationship. What is your current state of mind – are you stressed, tired or hungry? These things can impact how intensely you feel about something at any given moment.

Look.
First, look at your spouse and remember you are on the same team, not rivals. Then, examine the situation at hand and ask yourself if this is truly a big deal or really a matter of different preferences. Whether it is folding towels, loading the dishwasher or the current condition of your car’s interior, some things boil down to personal preference. Is pursuing a conversation about these things worth the cost? And, in looking at the big picture of living life together, will you choose to place your focus on these areas?

Listen.

Instead of assuming your spouse couldn’t possibly have a reasonable explanation for why they do something a certain way, seek to understand their perspective before telling them why your way makes the most sense. It could help you avoid a lot of unnecessary drama. Even when you truly believe you are right, is it really necessary to prove it?

Most couples say their relationship is what matters most to them. What tends to trip them up is mistakenly making the minor things the major ones.