Negatively interpreting other people can create terrible frustration in a relationship. We human beings love to be known and perceived correctly. In fact, in most cases, we’re willing to let go of…

We we’re hit with a disturbing reality, our first impulse is to deny its existence. Denial is a defense mechanism to keep us from having to face painful or frightening information, an…

Human beings are social creatures, created in the image of a God of relationship. Because of this, we are innately programmed with certain social needs. We can’t deprive ourselves of these needs…

Arguably the doyenne of marriage therapy is John Gottman, the creator of what he calls the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” These “horsemen” are four traits Gottman notices in marriages headed for…

The next deadly relationship sin is invalidation. Unlike escalation, invalidation can be quite subtle. Often it comes in the form of trying to help: “Don’t worry,” “Don’t be angry,” “Don’t cry.” Research…

Hostility levels may be a better predictor of heart disease risk than “traditional” factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and being overweight, suggests a study out of Boston University.[1]…

We are made in the image of a relational God, designed to love and be loved. Yet we seem also mysteriously wired toward dysfunction in our relationships. How can we get back…