If we aren’t intentional about our partnerships, they won’t be our own.  If we are not mindful in our relationships, we will default into the patterns given to us by parents, our five closest friends, our faith communities, and all the media we ingest.  I’d like my own marriage, thank you very much, not anyone else’s.  And that means setting a concrete vision. Vision = Freedom.

Everywhere I go, well intentioned elders say these three things to teens and young adults without realizing the message of helplessness they are sending them. Switch up the conversation with these phrases to inspire hope and support instead.

Romantic compatibility is not a myth so much as it is an underestimation. We don’t just find partners who bring out our best; we also find the love that brings to the surface our fears, unmet needs, and shadow work. The key is to hang in long enough to find out what’s on the other side of the frustration.

Words to say to end an argument. Maybe before it begins. And it’s not I love you or I’m sorry.

Discovering a key strategy for parenting, marriage, and self.