Getting Rid of Marital Disappointment
Today's post about marital disappointment comes from our friend Tammie. You can check out more of her work here.
When I go to the hair...
Sometimes “Don’t Go to Bed Angry” is Terrible Advice
There's a scene in the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day where Bill yells at a groundhog "don't drive angry!" (it makes more sense in...
How to Win Every Confrontation in Your Marriage
When it comes to confrontation in marriage, I have a rule of thumb that has proved itself to be true over and over again:
The...
How Bad Married Sex Can Actually Be Good For You!
Steve meets Michelle.
They fall in love and get married shortly after graduation.
For our story...
Sometimes Your Spouse Doesn’t Want Your Help. Here’s The Reason Why.
The scene is a couple driving in the car on the way to dinner:
Silence for several minutes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
A few more minutes of...
The Question You’re Not Asking
Malcolm and Jenny have been married for ten years. They have three children who keep them busy and exhausted most of the time. Their...
My Spouse Watches Porn: Now What?
Today's post involves a wife asking Juli Slattery @ Authentic Intimacy what she should do after catching her husband viewing pornography. A thought up front:...
10 of the Hardest Adjustments to Make After Marriage
Today's post comes from Rebecca at To Love, Honor, and Vacuum. Enjoy!
Adjusting to marriage can be difficult!
There’s a lot of great stuff that comes...
3 Communication Breakdowns You Can Fix Today
Communication is so important in a relationship. It’s the way we express our needs and wants to our partner. But sometimes, the message doesn’t...
How To Have Healthy Boundaries With Your In-Laws
Q: My mother-in-law really has my husband under her thumb. How can I get her to back off without hurting either of...
The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Why Most of Our Fights Start in Our Imagination...
In her recent Netflix special author, researcher, and all-around national treasure Brené Brown describes an argument she had with her husband. They were...
Smoke Detector Batteries & Warning Signs in Your Marriage
A short thought today to start your week:
I am notoriously bad at ignoring things I don't want to deal with. Once in college I...
These Are the Words Your Spouse Desperately Needs to Hear
So today's post by Doug Fields isn't about marriage ... but it also totally is. Do the words you speak into your spouse's life...
How to Add Warmth to Your Frozen Marriage
It's easy for marriages to become civil but distant, where a continued lack of warmth slowly freezes out love. The good news, coming today...
Set These Realistic Goals for Your Marriage in 2019
A few years ago, at the suggestion of a friend, Troy and I began the tradition of setting goals for our marriage...
The Only “Fair” Marriage Is When Both Spouses Give 100 Percent.
Happily married Eric and Jill climbed out of bed at their normal Saturday morning hour. They had a lot to do around...
Conflict and Fighting Aren’t the Same Thing. Here’s Why That Matters.
I’ve shared with you in past blog posts that my husband, Mike, and I are very, very different. Early in our marriage,...
7 Things Your Husband Won’t Tell You He Needs
Several years ago I graduated with a degree in civil engineering. But this wasn’t my first choice. That title belonged to chemical engineering. I...
10 Mental Habits That Fuel Anxiety
I (Josh) struggle with anxiety. So does my wife. Learning how to recognize our anxiety, communicate about it, and manage it has been one...
Four Amazing Truths to Remember in Tough Times
All marriages hit tough times, and most of the time here at Thriving Marriages we focus on how to survive them. A list of...
Good Communication Is Saying the Right Words at the Right Time
You’re in penguin adorned pajamas headed to bed, then your partner starts to talk about their day.
Gritty stuff,...
Your Marriage’s Scratches and Dents Are What Make It Priceless. Here’s Why.
Mike and I recently attended a wedding. The bride was stunning, and the groom gleamed with pride. Not a dry eye in...
I Call Marriage
I don’t watch a ton of TV but I have a new show this year, This is Us. And there was one scene between...
My Spouse Is Weird
Today's post about my spouse is weird comes from Scott Kedersha, and is relevant to every marriage out there because let's be honest, you're...
Forgiving Your Spouse Doesn’t Mean Ignoring Your Feelings
Forgiving your spouse isn't always easy. Many marriages don't work through the pain, honesty, and tension that true forgiveness requires. Instead they bury their...
When Little Fights Become Big Problems
Q: We don’t have big fights, but lots of little disagreements and hurts simmer under the surface. How can we handle these?
A: The moment...
36 Conversations That Will Turn Your Spouse On
Married couples should flirt and have intimate conversations. You stoke the fire of your interest about anything (i.e., job, hobby, faith, politics,...
Love Is a Choice, Especially When You’re Not Feeling It.
When my wife and I were going through marriage problems, the last thing that I wanted to hear was love is a...
3 Easy Ways to Meet Your Spouse’s Emotional Needs
For some of us, when we hear the word generosity in terms of meeting our spouse's emotional needs, we may think of giving financially....
Not Spending Time With Your Spouse Is Okay
Okay, okay, that's not entirely true. Of course you need to spend time together. But this is a great article for the younger marrieds...
The Difference Between Forgiveness and Trust
Understanding the difference between forgiveness and trust is critical to every marriage. When Jason and Alisha met with my wife and I they were...
Want 2019 to be a GREAT Year? Ask These 3 Questions.
Longtime TM partner, Scott Kedersha, recently wrote a fantastic post on how to reflect on your past year. While it's not all...
Your Spouse’s Perspective Is Annoying. You Should Listen Anyway!
I don’t know about you, but I often overlook the Lord’s eternal perspective. He sees all of time, from beginning to end,...
What To Do If You’re Bored With Your Marriage
Want to know what to do if you're bored with your marriage? Here's helpful information if you're feeling bored with your marriage.
Q:...
40 Texts to Send to Your Spouse
What I love about today's post from Marriage Laboratory is how simple, fun, and original it is. It definitely gave me some inspiration, and...
The Surprising Reason You’re Angry at Your Spouse Today
Okay some of you aren't angry TODAY, but you were yesterday, or will be tomorrow. This great post from America's Family Coaches explains how...
God’s Solutions to the Reasons For Divorce
Do you feel just plain unhappy in your marriage? Or that you’re no longer in love with your spouse? Some would say you should...
“In It To Win It” Is a Bad Goal For Marriage
My wife, Michelle, and I went on a beach vacation in early January. It was great to get away and to relax....
What to Do When You Are Last on Your Spouse’s To Do List?
Today's post from the always-helpful America's Family Coaches is a great conversation starter between you and your spouse. The desire to feel...
The Secret to Setting Good Conversation Habits
It’s easy in conversation with to think ahead, hurry to answer, interrupt, or cut them off mid-sentence. Sometimes we’re busy, but mostly it’s about...
5 Powerful Reasons to Suck it Up and Say “I Was Wrong”
No one likes admitting they're wrong, but Juli's post today @ Authentic Intimacy makes it a little bit easier. I especially like her point...
This 1 Powerful Truth Will Change How You See Your Spouse
Gary Thomas sets up this post on his own, so I'll keep my setup brief: you should read this!
This post continues an ongoing series,...
25 Fun Questions to Ask Your Spouse
John Gottman calls them love maps. We call them open ended questions to ask your spouse. The point here is that you talk,...
4 Ways To Build A Strong Community That Supports Your Marriage
We all need a marriage community – a support system around us of couples our age, and maybe a mentor couple that’s a...
Close the Loop: The One Vital Habit That Will Keep Your Marriage Moving Forward
The moment you do or say something that hurts your marriage partner, you stand at a fork in the road. Whether you...
5 TED Talks for Your Marriage
Our friends over at simplemarriage.net recently posted 5 TED talks for your marriage that would be great for you and your spouse to watch...
This Powerful Habit Will Revolutionize Your Marriage
My pastor's sermon this Sunday leveled me. He was teaching from the verse in James about being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to...
The Destructive Danger of a Negative Spouse
A negative spouse reeks destruction on marriages. Here's how...
Frederick Buechner is a brilliant writer who can jump between fiction and nonfiction like a champion...
5 Easy Ways to Stop Fighting With Your Spouse
Stop fighting with your spouse…if only it were so simple!
Let’s face it…communication is very complex.
What Are You Doing to Pursue Your Spouse?
You need to make it one of your highest priorities to pursue your spouse. One of my biggest concerns as a married...