Dr. John Gottman says the difference between happy and unhappy couples isn't that happy couples don't fight. It's that they repair quickly. A repair attempt is anything that de-escalates the tension. - A joke. - A touch. - "I'm sorry, let me try that again." - "I feel like we are getting off track." Goal: Catch the slide before it becomes a crash. Make a repair attempt today. Bonus: This works well if you have kids too. Repair with them as needed AND repair with your spouse in front of your kids. This models great conflict resolution.

Now that work and school are back in full swing, the stress is back too. Do you bring your work stress home and dump it on your family? Try a Transition Ritual. When you park the car or shut the laptop, take 60 seconds. - Visualize the work stress staying in the car/office. - Take 3 deep breaths. - Set an intention: "I am entering my home as a present spouse/parent." Protect your marriage from the stress of the day.

Let's play a game. What is the BEST way to resolve an argument? (Wrong answers only in the comments! Let's see how terrible your advice is. 😂)

One complaint we often hear in relationships: "I don't feel heard." During the holidays, stress makes us bad listeners. We are so busy defending our point of view or checking our to-do list that we miss the heart of what our person is saying. Try the "Mirror" technique: When your spouse/child tells you something, repeat it back: "So what I hear you saying is..." It sounds simple, but it changes everything. It lowers defenses and builds safety. Want to master this? In our Connection Lab, we deep-dive into communication styles and practical tools to break the cycle of miscommunication. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally understand each other, click HERE

Every tree has one. It’s the macaroni star from 1998 that is falling apart. It’s the creepy elf that stares at you. It’s the pickle hidden in the branches. (Yes, we have that pickle ornament! Whoever finds if first on Christmas morning, gets to open the first present) We want to see the "Real Life" side of your holiday decor! Comment below: Describe the weirdest or ugliest ornament that you insist on putting on the tree every single year. Why do you keep it?