Integrity and ethical values are essential elements in a happy life and marriage. That entails not only telling the truth but, principally, living the truth.  Ethical and honest people have no secrets or hidden agendas. They are truthful with themselves, their spouses, their family, their friends and their colleagues. From this article, you will learn about six questions that will tell you whether you are living an honest life that can bring happiness to you and your marriage, or whether you have something you need to work on.   Do you get angry often? Anger usually stems from inner conflicts we have – frustration, insecurity, stress, financial concerns, strained relations.…

Shame can block you from experiencing other emotions and prevent you from communicating with your spouse. For a change to happen, you need to accept that something is wrong and then deal with your other feelings. The problem with shame is that shame is about acceptance. If you don’t accept yourself and believe that others are rejecting you, working on these beliefs may take time. Other feelings, such as fear, vulnerability and anger are easier to work with. However, the process of dealing with these feelings and moving to this level of vulnerability requires extreme care. From this article you will learn about 5 steps that can help you work…

Our mindset is a crucial element of happiness. In this sense, the concept of “flow” relates to achieving a positive state of consciousness through challenging activities that are especially satisfying. It means finding your true self by engaging in tasks that you love to do and with people that you love. From this article, you will learn the four steps in the process of getting into a flow and becoming deeply involved with activities that will bring you happiness in your personal life and also in your marriage.   Step 1: Identify flow sources Getting into flow requires using abilities to tackle demanding situations. Skills and challenges feed on each…

Our society has become so busy that people sometimes forget the importance of spending quality time with one another. Social media has made people more independent and some people feel that having minimal contact with a person is okay even when that person is their spouse. From this article, you will learn about four ways you can spend time with your spouse that are beneficial to your health.   Coffee, coffee, coffee For many people, drinking coffee is like having a sip of blissful heaven in the morning. Coffee has a lot of health benefits. It improves your daily mental state, it can lower the risk of liver disease and…

What are my primary emotional needs? We all have needs, including emotional ones. Everyone wants to feel like they belong, like they are wanted, loved, and mean something. All of these needs are a part of human nature. These natural desires are what fuels our self-esteem. We all share these wants, but everyone has a unique set of desires. In a healthy marriage, both spouses need to have an understanding. Both individuals must feel respect from and for each other and others.  Understanding each other’s primary emotional needs, and working to respond to them will strengthen your marriage.   Am I being responsive to your emotional needs? Not all our…

Family life can be hectic, stressful and time-consuming. It’s not like when you were single and living on your own. You have to keep the kids occupied, the dog happy and your life running smoothly. These are all great things happening in your life, but they are also a lot of work and it gets harder to find time for yourself. Time to unwind and recharge. Sometimes you only have a few minutes. Well, make those few minutes count by unplugging and relaxing in these unexpected everyday places:   In line at the coffee shop What a hectic morning, and it’s not even 9 o’clock yet. As you wait in…

In the 21st century, people have another exciting form of dating. They simply have to create accounts on their favorite dating websites and seek a marriage partner. While online dating is seen as the last resort when searching a life partner, some people can swear by it. They found their spouse online, had a few dates, decided they were fit for each other and tied the knot. Although internet dating has simplified the way we meet lovers, there is one more concern. Does internet love work? Do internet lovers form lasting marriage relationships? There are two answers to these questions—yes and no. Some couples who met online are in happy…

Revealing an Affair in Marriage is Difficult but Necessary Affairs are among the things that could end a marriage. Surprisingly, the marriage partner who starts an affair plans to stay married. That’s why affairs are done in secret to prevent the other person from knowing the truth. Almost every cheater denies ever having an affair even if they are confronted with overwhelming proof. Men are known to deny it, making their wives feel overly deceived and betrayed. This denial happens because the spouse didn’t plan to get caught, in first place, and lose their marriage. Immense guilt and stress Infidelity causes untold guilt and as lies get piled, depression may…

Divorce or separation is never part of any newly weds’ plan. Some couples don’t entertain such a thought in the deepest parts of their minds. Divorce is against the will of God and shouldn’t happen. The reality is different though. While some are getting married, others are getting divorced. Breaking up for good looks like a normal thing today and people are for it regardless of all the pain it causes. Although some relationships are repairable, others are beyond repair and the only way out is to go separate ways. If your marriage is going strong, you can only play your part and hope that he or she does the…

  Shame is an emotion that reflects how you feel about yourself as a person It may sound surprising, but the reason you have the emotion of shame is to help you get easier through life. This emotion works like a radar, which is true about all other emotions. The mildest forms of shame send a signal that what you are doing is unacceptable to the society or to certain people in it. For most people, shame is the same as embarrassment. However, shame can also be a signal that something about your behavior is not acceptable. The problem starts when shame becomes one of the dominant emotions and you…