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When you first start dating someone, you are most likely open-minded. You look forward to learning more about his or her interests, work, and family. You listen intently to your date’s stories and dreams. You probably find yourself imagining what the future could look like with this potential partner.

It’s easy to quickly move from that open-minded receptive space to one of making premature decisions about whether the relationship is going to work. It’s easy to be very  black-and-white in evaluating the relationship too early in the getting-to-know you process. Human beings crave certainty and being without it can be stressful, so much so that it pressures you into ...

If you are reading this post, you’ve most likely recently been through a breakup or experienced some level of heartache. It’s inevitable that everyone will go through this experience in their life, so remember that you are not alone. Once you’ve worked through the break-up and recognized the lessons, you might be thinking about dating again. And, as you start to meet new people, it’s probably apparent that being vulnerable and willing to trust after a challenging relationship might be harder than you think. In this post, we’ll discuss the stages of grief and letting go, and recommend some ways to rebuild trust and tune into red flags ...

Maybe you are contemplating a major life change. It could be a new job, change in relationship status, or a habit you want to overcome. No matter what you are trying to shift in your life, it’s important to recognize that change happens in phases and in small steps.

If you are struggling with change, it’s most likely due to the fact that change is challenging because you, and nearly all of us, are addicted to your patterns or the way you have been doing things. Identifying these patterns and taking small steps to alter them can help to set you up for successful large-scale change.

To make ...

Life with a new baby is undoubtedly a joyous experience. From the first giggles to the first steps, there are more memorable moments than you can count. However, as baby becomes the center of the household, it’s natural that your relationship with your partner takes a back seat. The transition to life with baby is one of the most challenging changes a couple endures and has the potential to either strengthen or negatively impact your relationship. It’s essential to continue to make time for your primary relationship despite the distraction and joy of life with a new baby. 

Here are three simple ways you can continue to foster connection ...

When you hear the words “mom shame” you probably think of the judgement and criticism moms have for one another. Psychology Today cites a study in which sixty-one percent of the recipients report that they have been criticized for their child-rearing decisions. While this form of mom shame and judging is highly prevalent and painful, there is another kind of personal mom shame that runs parallel to it. Personal shame, anxiety, and doubt about your own abilities, and judging yourself as a mother, are thoughts that might run rampant everyday. Overcoming this type of mom shame requires a deeper understanding of it and strategies to identify and overcome ...

We have all been deep into a relationship, went through a breakup, and then saw several red flags in hindsight – after having time to reflect upon things with a new perspective. Seeing life through the lens of experience and wisdom can be a profound thing and yield important learnings. But, what if you had the tools to reduce your chances of getting into a relationship that ultimately led to heartache and pain? What if you had the ability to better identify red flags along the way?

In this post, we examine how to identify red flags by examining the signs within yourself that things aren’t exactly as they ...

Despite the fairytale vision that you likely had in your mind before getting engaged, planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful and emotional experiences in life. Trying to balance both family’s wish lists, blend ideas, and keep plans within budget can add pressure to any relationship. However, enduring these decisions, communicating effectively, and growing as a couple during this time, will be instrumental to long-term relationship success. It’s difficult to remember this as arguments arise over the guest list, traditions, family’s requests, and the overall vision for your wedding day, but in many ways planning a wedding prepares you for marriage.

A healthy couple exists when ...