There are days you wake up and have no motivation to go to work. Times when you don’t feel like seeing your in-laws and weekends and there’s no desire to get out of the bed anytime between Friday evening and Monday morning. However, when the lack of motivation creeps into marriage and you begin struggling…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HowToStayMotivatedDuringMarriageChallenges.jpg475800Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-06 06:10:012021-04-13 09:05:53How to Stay Motivated During Marriage Challenges
These solutions can help you deal with the problems head-on.
There are lots of things that can make your marriage great. Inevitably, your marriage will run into some bumps and cracks in the road that can cause problems. Those problems don’t have to become craters in your journey. Awareness of common marital issues can help you avoid many of them. It can also prepare you…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5CommonProblemsinMarriage.jpg368800Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-05 22:46:522022-05-10 12:12:465 Common Problems in Marriage
Married. You and your spouse talk every day and you sleep in the same bed. You share bills and responsibilities. Of course, you have sex. You do all the things married couples do. Yet you so often feel unheard and unknown by your spouse. You don’t feel like your spouse knows your hurts and pains.…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/WhatToDoWhenYouFeelUnheardInYourMarriage.jpg379800Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-05 22:36:442020-10-19 12:24:15What to Do When You Feel Unheard in Your Marriage
You want to have good relationships. You want a healthy marriage AND you want to be a great parent, a wonderful friend, fiancé, or co-worker. But relationships are sometimes complex. They aren’t always easy. Issues arise. And if you’re like me, you could just use some help sometimes. The internet gives us ENDLESS information on…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HowtoFindGoodRelationshipAdvice.jpg454800Chris Ownbyhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-10-05 21:46:132021-04-01 17:22:46How to Find Good Relationship Advice
Name something that can help you have a long-lasting, thriving marriage. I’ll give you a moment to run through the usual answers… communication, working through conflict, intimacy, yadda, yadda, yadda. The one you’re looking for is… Spending time alone. You might crave it and don’t get enough of it. Perhaps your spouse craves alone time…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/roberto-nickson-q9nZUFC1nTw-unsplash.jpg13652048Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-23 10:59:262022-04-04 12:02:45Why Spending Time Alone Is Good for Your Marriage
Will having an open marriage increase your happiness? Maybe you’ve seen the trend among celebrities “celebrating” an open marriage situation. Maybe you’ve even thought about adopting an open marriage relationship with your spouse. I’d like to help you with some answers. Answers based on research, common sense, the multitudes of couples I’ve worked with, and…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/jonathan-borba-n-A894UXsj8-unsplash.jpg20481365Chris Ownbyhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-09-23 10:54:012020-10-20 11:54:25Will Having an Open Marriage Increase Your Happiness?
Your marriage has been blindsided by an emotional affair. One of you is struggling with thoughts and feelings of betrayal, shock, and hurt. One of you is struggling with thoughts and feelings of confusion, guilt, and sadness. How can your marriage move past this? The good news is, your marriage can not only move past…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/terry-vlisidis-wPn2iU7mVE4-unsplash.jpg13092048John Daumhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-09-15 15:13:142022-01-07 13:43:58How to Move Past an Emotional Affair
Have you ever had a fight with your spouse as you were walking out the door to work and actually thought to yourself, “I can’t wait to get to work to talk with so-and-so because he/she is such a good listener and gets me.” This thought may feel completely harmless to you at first, but…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/marcelo-matarazzo-eoll6jVrEM0-unsplash.jpg13652048John Daumhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-09-15 09:23:152021-10-06 15:53:57Warning Signs of an Emotional Affair
Do you have realistic expectations for your marriage? Fast forward to being married. You text your spouse about how long your day is and how you’ll be home late. They respond saying they actually got to go home early and can’t wait until you get home. You think to yourself, “Ah, so glad they’re getting…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/keenan-constance-yIdSW4wjB3A-unsplash.jpg20481365First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-09-14 15:51:452021-01-08 14:32:54Do You Have Realistic Expectations for Your Marriage?
It’s that time of year! The leaves are changing colors and falling. There’s a cool breeze in the air. Pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. We’ve moved past the laid-back summer and now it’s FALL, the season of football, fun… and romance. Here are several romantic fall fun date ideas that bring out…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/romane-van-troost-sn61a37mbUM-unsplash.jpg20481365Gena Ellishttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-14 15:36:262020-10-27 10:46:5430 Romantic Fall Date Ideas For Couples
Have a more fulfilling marriage by doing these things.
When your relationship has a high level of emotional intimacy, you share your feelings, needs, fears, successes, and failures knowing you will continue to be loved and cared for by your partner. Building strong intimacy in your marriage can give your marriage the satisfying fulfillment you desire. Here are 6 exercises to strengthen emotional intimacy…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/keenan-constance-cHRfMBwDb3Q-unsplash.jpg13652048Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-10 16:52:202022-02-10 11:39:086 Exercises to Strengthen Emotional Intimacy in Your Marriage
Have you ever gotten into bed, rolled over, and said “I miss you,” after sitting next to your spouse on the couch all evening? Or thought it silently to yourself as you question, “What did we even do? I mean we were next to each other—how can I miss them?” Just being in the same…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/gianpaolo-la-paglia-qIADaHMKKVg-unsplash-scaled.jpg20003000First Things Firsthttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-09-10 16:45:282021-03-16 11:57:504 Ways to Be More Present With Your Spouse
You thought the words “marriage” and “loneliness” were oxymorons. Now you realize that isn’t the case. A Cigna study reports that in over 40% of marriages, one of the partners experiences loneliness and is unable to connect and be vulnerable with their spouse. What do you do if you’re feeling lonely in your marriage? 1.…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-pixabay-326650.jpg13652048Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-10 16:41:552022-06-21 15:21:39Feeling Lonely in Your Marriage? Here’s What to Do.
What would it look like to be completely stress-free in your marriage? Wouldn’t it be outright, utter marital bliss to wake up next to your spouse, depart for the day, rejoin together, and go to bed at night with the one you love the most without an ounce of stress pervading your relationship? Well, unfortunately,…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tara-bazille-IEmv67Jg8lA-unsplash.jpg13672048Chris Ownbyhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-09-10 09:04:352021-03-16 11:27:15How Couples Can Help Each Other De-Stress and Improve Their Relationship
When you got married, did you imagine endless conversations and an unending exchange of thoughts, ideas, dreams, and emotions? Fast forward a few years down the road and now you find yourself sitting in the bed or eating a meal together in sheer silence, feeling disconnected from each other… Finding yourself in this place isn’t…
What you do with your stress can make all the difference.
Walk into a crowded room and ask for a show of hands from anyone who has not felt stressed-out in the past six months. If you find a hand-raiser, pull them aside, and ask their secret. My bet is not one hand will be raised. Truth is, we all experience stress at varying degrees, and…
B.C. (Before COVID) plenty of us lived life at a frenetic pace and had resigned ourselves that it would always be that way. Fast forward to COVID lockdown and a forced stop. We actually had room to breathe in our lives whether we liked it or not. Being forced to taste the simple life for a…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-thought-catalog-904616-1-scaled.jpg13662048Julie Baumgardnerhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-01 16:37:452024-11-20 14:40:465 Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Margin in Your Life
Much of your talk with your spouse is “business” talk. Sure, it’s stuff that has to be discussed so things run smoothly around the house day to day, but you really wish you had more meaningful conversations with your spouse. How do you move from “business” talk to deeper, meaningful conversations about your marriage, the…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/isaac-iverson-JZNGjGesz10-unsplash-e1598555428363.jpg236500John Daumhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-27 15:11:232023-01-30 13:17:23How To Have More Meaningful Conversations With Your Spouse
All the kids have gone to sleep. You and your spouse are lying in the bed and… Silence. You can’t think of anything you want to say, though there’s probably a lot of things you’d like to say. This is happening quite often. There are more and more moments where you and your spouse are together…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3842345.jpg13672048Reggie Madisonhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-08-26 14:07:432020-10-20 12:09:29How to Start Talking with Your Spouse Again
What if I told you that your perception of your spouse—whether you see them in a positive or negative light—determines your total marriage satisfaction both now and in the future? And then, what if I said your perception of your spouse is something you have the power to determine? It doesn’t take much to put…
https://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-elina-sazonova-4332151.jpg13652048Chris Ownbyhttps://courses.firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-08-24 14:50:282020-10-20 12:19:527 Ways to Stop Assuming the Worst About Your Spouse
How to Stay Motivated During Marriage Challenges
There are days you wake up and have no motivation to go to work. Times when you don’t feel like seeing your in-laws and weekends and there’s no desire to get out of the bed anytime between Friday evening and Monday morning. However, when the lack of motivation creeps into marriage and you begin struggling…
5 Common Problems in Marriage
There are lots of things that can make your marriage great. Inevitably, your marriage will run into some bumps and cracks in the road that can cause problems. Those problems don’t have to become craters in your journey. Awareness of common marital issues can help you avoid many of them. It can also prepare you…
What to Do When You Feel Unheard in Your Marriage
Married. You and your spouse talk every day and you sleep in the same bed. You share bills and responsibilities. Of course, you have sex. You do all the things married couples do. Yet you so often feel unheard and unknown by your spouse. You don’t feel like your spouse knows your hurts and pains.…
How to Find Good Relationship Advice
You want to have good relationships. You want a healthy marriage AND you want to be a great parent, a wonderful friend, fiancé, or co-worker. But relationships are sometimes complex. They aren’t always easy. Issues arise. And if you’re like me, you could just use some help sometimes. The internet gives us ENDLESS information on…
Why Spending Time Alone Is Good for Your Marriage
Name something that can help you have a long-lasting, thriving marriage. I’ll give you a moment to run through the usual answers… communication, working through conflict, intimacy, yadda, yadda, yadda. The one you’re looking for is… Spending time alone. You might crave it and don’t get enough of it. Perhaps your spouse craves alone time…
Will Having an Open Marriage Increase Your Happiness?
Will having an open marriage increase your happiness? Maybe you’ve seen the trend among celebrities “celebrating” an open marriage situation. Maybe you’ve even thought about adopting an open marriage relationship with your spouse. I’d like to help you with some answers. Answers based on research, common sense, the multitudes of couples I’ve worked with, and…
How to Move Past an Emotional Affair
Your marriage has been blindsided by an emotional affair. One of you is struggling with thoughts and feelings of betrayal, shock, and hurt. One of you is struggling with thoughts and feelings of confusion, guilt, and sadness. How can your marriage move past this? The good news is, your marriage can not only move past…
Warning Signs of an Emotional Affair
Have you ever had a fight with your spouse as you were walking out the door to work and actually thought to yourself, “I can’t wait to get to work to talk with so-and-so because he/she is such a good listener and gets me.” This thought may feel completely harmless to you at first, but…
Do You Have Realistic Expectations for Your Marriage?
Do you have realistic expectations for your marriage? Fast forward to being married. You text your spouse about how long your day is and how you’ll be home late. They respond saying they actually got to go home early and can’t wait until you get home. You think to yourself, “Ah, so glad they’re getting…
30 Romantic Fall Date Ideas For Couples
It’s that time of year! The leaves are changing colors and falling. There’s a cool breeze in the air. Pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season. We’ve moved past the laid-back summer and now it’s FALL, the season of football, fun… and romance. Here are several romantic fall fun date ideas that bring out…
6 Exercises to Strengthen Emotional Intimacy in Your Marriage
When your relationship has a high level of emotional intimacy, you share your feelings, needs, fears, successes, and failures knowing you will continue to be loved and cared for by your partner. Building strong intimacy in your marriage can give your marriage the satisfying fulfillment you desire. Here are 6 exercises to strengthen emotional intimacy…
4 Ways to Be More Present With Your Spouse
Have you ever gotten into bed, rolled over, and said “I miss you,” after sitting next to your spouse on the couch all evening? Or thought it silently to yourself as you question, “What did we even do? I mean we were next to each other—how can I miss them?” Just being in the same…
Feeling Lonely in Your Marriage? Here’s What to Do.
You thought the words “marriage” and “loneliness” were oxymorons. Now you realize that isn’t the case. A Cigna study reports that in over 40% of marriages, one of the partners experiences loneliness and is unable to connect and be vulnerable with their spouse. What do you do if you’re feeling lonely in your marriage? 1.…
How Couples Can Help Each Other De-Stress and Improve Their Relationship
What would it look like to be completely stress-free in your marriage? Wouldn’t it be outright, utter marital bliss to wake up next to your spouse, depart for the day, rejoin together, and go to bed at night with the one you love the most without an ounce of stress pervading your relationship? Well, unfortunately,…
Why Do Couples Stop Talking?
When you got married, did you imagine endless conversations and an unending exchange of thoughts, ideas, dreams, and emotions? Fast forward a few years down the road and now you find yourself sitting in the bed or eating a meal together in sheer silence, feeling disconnected from each other… Finding yourself in this place isn’t…
Is My Stress Level Affecting My Child?
Walk into a crowded room and ask for a show of hands from anyone who has not felt stressed-out in the past six months. If you find a hand-raiser, pull them aside, and ask their secret. My bet is not one hand will be raised. Truth is, we all experience stress at varying degrees, and…
5 Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Margin in Your Life
B.C. (Before COVID) plenty of us lived life at a frenetic pace and had resigned ourselves that it would always be that way. Fast forward to COVID lockdown and a forced stop. We actually had room to breathe in our lives whether we liked it or not. Being forced to taste the simple life for a…
How To Have More Meaningful Conversations With Your Spouse
Much of your talk with your spouse is “business” talk. Sure, it’s stuff that has to be discussed so things run smoothly around the house day to day, but you really wish you had more meaningful conversations with your spouse. How do you move from “business” talk to deeper, meaningful conversations about your marriage, the…
How to Start Talking with Your Spouse Again
All the kids have gone to sleep. You and your spouse are lying in the bed and… Silence. You can’t think of anything you want to say, though there’s probably a lot of things you’d like to say. This is happening quite often. There are more and more moments where you and your spouse are together…
7 Ways to Stop Assuming the Worst About Your Spouse
What if I told you that your perception of your spouse—whether you see them in a positive or negative light—determines your total marriage satisfaction both now and in the future? And then, what if I said your perception of your spouse is something you have the power to determine? It doesn’t take much to put…
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