Category

Conflict

Mar 23
Love44

8 Ridiculously Simple Ways to Improve Your Marriage

By Communication, Conflict, Self Reflection 21 Comments

It can be easy to over complicate what it takes to have a healthy, thriving marriage. We can look at our spouse’s needs and feel it necessary to make grandiose plans to show our love. Most often, however, showing consistent, small acts of affection and appreciation can go further and last longer than a weekend away, an expensive gift, or even a big vacation. Having a great marriage happens how most everything does: by making one intentional, meaningful step at a time. If you are stuck in a rut, or simply looking for ways to make a good marriage a…

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Mar 18
Love18

Danger Zone: When Nostalgia Threatens Your Marriage

By Communication, Conflict, Self Reflection 2 Comments

Is it wrong to pursue a friendship with an ex-boyfriend after being married for 7 years? What would you do if an old flame suddenly reappeared in your life–and you’re married to someone else? Should you reconnect and establish a friendship, or should you run? The re-entry of an ex-boyfriend or ex-girfriend into your life can stir up old feelings that you have long left behind…feelings that could be very dangerous to your marriage and family. So how do you decide what to do about that friend request you haven’t yet responded to? In today’s video, I (Leslie) discuss the…

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Mar 11
Love22

Tuning Out: Having Sex With Kids at Home

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection 2 Comments

My wife will not have sex if our grade-school age children are at home. Is that normal? So you’re a husband who’s feeling a little frustrated–and with good reason! Women are so in tune with their environment, and especially with the people and things they feel responsible for, that it can sometimes create issues in the bedroom. Seemingly small annoyances like sounds in the house, cracks in the door or blinds, or the sound of your kids playing in the other room can wreak havoc on a woman’s ability to focus on sex. Men seem to have less of a…

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Mar 09
Love31

5 Ways To Support Your Spouse’s Dreams

By Careers, Communication, Conflict, Scripture, Self Reflection 18 Comments

The Bible says when two marry, they become one flesh (Mark 10:8). Though that reference is often interpreted to be speaking of sex, it is talking about so much more. Marriage is the joining of two lives, of soul and of flesh. It is committing “until death do us part” to each other’s thoughts and dreams, joys and sufferings, hopes and fears. It is a forever support system, and if you commit to staying married, an ever-evolving life. One of the greatest gifts that God can give us is the opportunity to chase our dreams. If you’re married to a…

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Mar 04
Love18

Affair-Proofing Your Marriage: Filling Emotional Gaps

By Communication, Conflict, Self Reflection, Time No Comments

What is the most important thing I can do to protect my marriage against an affair? We don’t always anticipate asking ourselves this question, but often, once we’re married, we find ourselves becoming fearful of an extramarital affair. It’s not something we should take lightly; after all, statistics for infidelity and divorce have been very high for a long time. If you’re doubting your ability to keep your commitment to your spouse (or your spouse’s ability to stay committed to you), it’s time to evaluate what’s behind your fears. Do you have areas of your life where your emotional needs…

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Mar 02
Love31

4 Ways Worry Can Devastate Your Marriage

By Careers, Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection, Time 13 Comments

It’s easy to get bogged down by worry, but it’s essential to resist the pull. Worrying prevents you from living life fully, and from truly experiencing the richness of your relationships–especially your marriage. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry occupies your mind, but it accomplishes nothing. It steals your time and misdirects your focus. It borrows trouble, creating all manner of worst-case scenarios in your mind that will probably never come to be. At its very worst, worry can turn you into a destructive person before…

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Feb 26
Love16

Recovering from the Disease to Please

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection No Comments

Is there anything I can learn to make myself less sensitive? Women tend to be incredibly sensitive to criticism. This is a fantastic quality when applied to the appropriate situations, but when it transforms into a “disease to please,” it can become destructive (to you and the people you love!). So many women we come across feel fulfilled when the things they do and say receive affirmation. They love to please the people they love. But on the flipside, they’re completely crushed when they receive criticism from a loved one. Today, Leslie discusses how to shift your perspective if you’re…

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Feb 24
Love21

Let Your Wife Be Your Wife. Let Your Mom Be Your Mom.

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family 24 Comments

Getting married is wonderful, but newlywed life can be a tricky business, especially when it comes to unpacking the expectations husbands and wives have for one another from day one. Often, husbands and wives don’t really know what they’ve signed up for. When expectations collide with reality, things can get messy. Today, we’ll talk about one of the most common comparisons, and the unrealistic expectations that come with it: husbands comparing their wives to their mothers. One of the most inflammatory things a husband can say to his wife is, “That’s not how Mom did it.” Let’s look into some…

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Feb 19
Love18

When Debt Controls Your Marriage

By Careers, Communication, Conflict, Self Reflection No Comments

My Wife and I Don’t Know How to Tell Ourselves ‘No’ and Are in $20,000 Debt. What Do We Do Now? When you and your spouse have dug yourselves into a lot of debt, it can make you feel pretty hopeless. Interestingly, that oppressive feeling can cause you to spin into even more bad choices, continuing the pattern that got you into debt in the first place. It’s a common, but dangerous, belief to think, “If I can’t get out of this debt, why try?” But that’s not the solution. And the good news is, you’re not alone! In today’s…

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Feb 17
Love24

Dealing with a Spouse’s Depression

By Communication, Conflict, In-laws & Family, Self Reflection 41 Comments

Imagine that your spouse has had a sudden personality change. Maybe he is usually an upbeat person who loves to interact with people, and suddenly he is acting cynical and avoiding people (including you). Or perhaps your normally energetic wife is becoming increasingly lethargic and sad, spending more and more time in the bed or on the couch. One thing’s for sure: they’re acting completely out of character, and you can’t seem to get through to them. At first, you feel angry. They’re saying things they normally wouldn’t say–things that disturb or upset you–and you can’t seem to help brighten…

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