Look more carefully at your default responses to life's invitations for growth.
My best guess is that 99% of you reading this will answer the question of this title in the affirmative. Of course, I’m saying “yes” to life. Why wouldn’t I?
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Topics: Healthy Relationships, Appreciation and Gratitude, Eliminating Negativity, Forgiveness, Healthy Connection, Healthy Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Imago Relationships, Emotional Connection, Defense Mechanisms, personalgrowth
How to cope with the realization that you may be like the parent who hurt you.
Are you like the person who most hurt you growing up?
Most of us carry some form of injury from one or both of our parents. For some of us it’s on the more serious side of the continuum: We were physically abused, sexually molested, or seriously neglected.
For others, the injury was more subtle but left its mark nevertheless, taking root in our internal narrative and causing us to make internal oaths not to be like one or the other of our parents when we grow up and have children ourselves.
Our parents were either too strict or not strict enough, they overcontrolled us or didn’t seem to pay attention to what we needed, they lived in their own private world or tried to live their lives through us.
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Topics: Managing Conflict, Family Culture, Healthy Relationships, Happy Relationships, Appreciation and Gratitude, Eliminating Negativity, Forgiveness, Healthy Connection, Healthy Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Imago Relationships, Emotional Connection, family therapy
Thanksgiving is an emotional time. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they see only once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often. – Johnny Carson
Yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. For many, this thought is mixed with anxiety. As in, “oh boy, what will happen this year”?
Why does he always have to talk politics, knowing someone will be insulted? Why can’t we just get together, you know… to be *thankful*?
Oh the irony of a holiday called Thanksgiving that also somehow brings out the worst in a family. Why is this? And perhaps more importantly, what can we do about it?
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Topics: Healthy Relationships, Appreciation and Gratitude, Forgiveness, Healthy Connection, Healthy Communication, Imago Relationships
Considering divorce? It’s understandable.
You've experienced relationship struggles, and it's become a frustrating place to live. Your partner is obviously capable of showing generous love to the dog or cat as you witness the affection you long for. You can't remember the last time your partner asked about you, your day or expressed any interest in any aspect of your life. It’s been years since you fell in love and now, at best you feel like you’re living with a roommate, and at worst, you’re “sleeping with the enemy”.
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Topics: Healthy Relationships, Conflict Resolution, Marriage Issues, Appreciation and Gratitude, Finding Love Again, Forgiveness, Relationship Therapy, Couples Therapy, Healthy Connection, Healthy Communication, Imago Relationships, Relationship Vision, Intentional Dialogue, Celebrate the Differences, Defense Mechanisms, Divorce, couples workshop, therapy
Here's your Monthly Digest packed full of the amazing Imago Relationship Blog posts and Relationship Tips.
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Topics: Sex Therapy, Managing Conflict, Family Mission Statement, Family Culture, Healthy Relationships, Conflict Resolution, Happy Relationships, Marriage Issues, Breaking Habits, Bad Breakup, Emotional Safety, Appreciation and Gratitude, Eliminating Negativity, Invisible Abuse, Anxiety, Finding Love Again, Forgiveness, Relationship Therapy, Couples Therapy, Recovering from an Affair, Self Care, Healthy Connection, Healthy Communication, Human Connection, Mental Health, Male Sexuality, Mental Fitness, Gender Bias, Sexual Fluidity, Digital Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Monthly Digest, Imago Relationships
Most often, the betrayal seems insurmountable at first. Reactions are understandably strong and absolute; e.g., “I could never be with you again”. “I will always be angry and resentful”.
Healing and recovering from an affair does take time, but it is possible if both people are willing to do the work. How long it takes depends on a number of variables, but I have found on average that two years is a fair estimate. Obviously, for some, it takes longer, and others dig deep and work it out sooner. Much of it depends on motivation and willingness to listen and understand.
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Topics: Marriage Issues, Finding Love Again, Forgiveness, Relationship Therapy, Couples Therapy, Recovering from an Affair, couples workshop, therapy