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Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a very simple, but profound statement that literally began a change in me that has led to my extraordinary success in life. The little quip that began my life-long journey to success was, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm". What stirred the passions ...Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a very simple, but profound statement that literally began a change in me that has led to my extraordinary success in life. The little quip that began my life-long journey to success was, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm".

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. With our fast paced society and the ever increasing demands of everyday life, more and more couples are finding that negativity is taking over their relationship. An abrupt interject of positivity into a relationship is the only way to change the environment before it is too late. From our three decades of research with successfully married couples, here are the 5 tips for jolting your relationship out of a negative rut:

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Increasingly, there are folks who post lots of vacuous stuff on the Internet who purport to be experts. They imply through their postings that they are all-knowing – that they have actually written widely about their topic, done the research to support their pronouncements, and have the requisite credentials to be taken seriously. Some – for mysterious reasons – even highlight the fact that they are “former” professionals in this or that field.

She's not trying to hurt you when you open up, but you're convinced she is, and the same old activation stories get whipped up and cause nothing but pain. You're missing the giant vulnerabilities all around that haven't been addressed or dignified to release the pressure around the tender unde eath. And it's SOOO hard to do this in a culture that has yet to reckon collectively with vulnerability, but we are the creators of culture, you, me, and how we relate with this material, right here and right now. Let's start there.

I’ve been working with a lot of couples over the years. One of the most common conce s they bring up are arguments that get too aggressive. Spouses end up getting emotionally hurt, upset and angry. While conflicts are a given in relationships, you can dramatically improve how you argue and significantly decrease the emotional damage you are doing to the relationship. When a conflict is beginning, we tend to think that we know what we are talking about and the other person is wrong.

Do you love an alcoholic? How can you live with an alcoholic and love them at the same time? Very carefully. It’s true, it is very difficult to live with an alcoholic, but people do it all the time. Alcohol controls the mind and spirit of a person, so in affect as long as the alcoholic is ...

Ok, how about we look at 10 more ways we can lower our cholesterol naturally? Slow down on the egg yokes Studies have shown that you should no more than four egg yokes a week. Each egg yoke that you eat contains over 200 milligrams of cholesterol! Even if you don’t think that you have to worry about your cholesterol, there is no reason not to play it safe. Eliminate Alcoholr While these studies can go both ways, moderate amounts of alcohol are your best bet.

Men and women are different in how they process and store emotions. There are always exceptions to this rule, but I’m about to describe how the majority of men and women deal with hurt and resentment. Both genders feel hurt and resentment, and both can certainly hold on to resentment a long time. But men have a slight tendency to throw off resentment and hurt on their own --women tend to need someone to talk to throw off the hurt and resentment. The best person for them to talk to is the person that caused the hurt and resentment.

“Nicola, My husband won’t go to marriage counselling, I’m desperately unhappy what shall I do?” “My wife refuses to speak to anyone, she says we are beyond help, it’s too late. Shall I give up?” These are statements I hear time and time again, and to be honest I don’t blame a husband or wife if they don’t believe in traditional relationship counselling. Statistics report that 75% of people who see marriage counsellors are worse off or divorced after! An alarming statistic isn’t it.

By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

You've probably heard that public speaking is feared more than death itself. It sounds crazy, but that's what people say. Is there any truth to this? Certainly the vast majority of people rank fear of public speaking as number one – 75% according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. For some people, this means a fear of speaking to large groups. For others, it means speaking to even a single person if that person has the power to evaluate you, as in a supervisor, interviewer, or professor giving an oral exam.

What plans have you made to have a successful marriage? Couples plan and plan for a wonderful wedding, yet how many give much thought and effort into how to plan for a lasting and loving until death do us part marriage? Tips to ponder! 1. Have realistic expectations for your marriage: I ...

Stress can help…to a point Stress management tools are part of your early warning system. Feelings of tension alert you to things you need to take care of, so you can move on to more important things, like getting your work done and having fun with your kids. When your early warning system doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, it’s less like the whirring of a well-functioning motor and more like the annoying high-pitched beep of a super-sensitive smoke alarm. Stress management tools keep your warning system working at its best.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Are there ways to ensure that your marriage will be a successful marriage? The answer is of course, no. Life, love, and marriage do not come with absolute guarantees. However, there are ways to greatly increase your odds of having a successful marriage.

I can’t sleep,” Shelly said. “I mean, I don’t have much trouble falling asleep. But then I wake up at three in the morning and can’t get back to sleep.” For Shelly, it started with a combination of a fast-paced job and the hormonal changes of pregnancy. While those things started her insomnia problem, it was worry that kept it going. In the wee hours of the morning she was solving problems, rehashing conversations, and making plans. One of her biggest worries was about whether or not she was going to get enough sleep. The cycle was self-perpetuating. A sleep-deprived nation

Marriage Is Alive And Well On Valentine’s Day* By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #3 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

In marriage counseling and couples counseling I find that most people coming through my office don't know what they are feeling. Rage, or anger is the easiest emotion to experience, but it is never the primary feeling. Anger is always a secondary affect to hurt, shame or anxiety. Before a couple can be intimate with each other, they first need to learn how to be intimate with themselves. You can't share your feelings with your significant other if you don't even know what you are really feeling.

“Why should I even bother trying anymore,” you might ask. Your marriage may be so far gone in your eyes that there’s no sense in waking the dead. Regardless of how bad you think your marriage is right now, there are always things you can do to recapture his heart. You may have to perform marital CPR in the worst case, but you’ve still got a fighting chance to make it work. How? If you apply these simple techniques I’m covering in this article to your relationship, you’ve got a great chance of getting his attention once again.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We live in a world of mixed messages. Our world is neither black nor white. The world we live in is full of powerful emotions. And the truth is, the world we live in is complicated – so very complicated. And for those of us who have lived in this world for a long time – well, everyday poses new challenges to our worldviews – to our “traditions.” At this stage of life, being open-minded is a virtue. On the other hand, being open-minded at this stage of life is difficult – it is complicated.

What happened to the sexual revolution, anyway? I know a lot of my male clients feel like the sexual temperature at home feels a lot more like the 50’s than the 70’s. As a marriage counselor, I a have bird’s eye view of this phenomenon, so I thought I’d offer up my observations. After all, both men and women tell me their sexual problems all day long. (O.K., they do talk about other things, too!) A lot of people, and that includes therapists, make the mistake of thinking that all you need for good sex is love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As we have said for many years, “Most marriages and relationships are worth saving and can be saved, but not all!” Here’s what we mean. In the case of abuse – sexual, physical, mental – many failing marriages and relationships are simply not worth saving. In fact, to attempt to save them puts one or both partners in the relationship at risk for further abuse.

Have you heard that marriage can get boring? This doesn’t need to happen, but it can feel ho-hum when things have gotten way too predictable. Routines are important, but this doesn’t mean that the thrills have to end, By trying out activities that are different from your usual ones, you’ll enjoy the comfort of some routines and also stay enjoy enough stimulation to keep you thriving. Zest is Contagious

Let’s face it, long time relationships sometimes end. And the simple truth is there isn’t always a compelling reason or reasons why. The separation of Al and Tipper Gore after 40 years of marriage is a good illustration of the “why” question – why did their love affair end after all these years?

"HOW COME I CAN'T MEDITATE?" ARTICLE by Pamela Smale Williams LPC LMFT AAMFT copyright 2008-9 Ok, you're all set to experience a meditative state, or "alpha state" as some refer to it. Others might call this trance induction, self hypnosis, or Visualization practice. You try it out, and are terribly disappointed or confused at why you didn't reach what you thought you were searching for. To begin, ask yourself the following questions: Am I expecting a mystical, "Twilight Zone" sort of experience? Don't expect this! It isn't necessary to nor is it likely to be that type of jou ey.

At the start of your wedding planning you will probably pick a style or theme for your wedding. At the very least you will pick a color scheme. Many brides will stick to plain colors afraid to take a bold step and include patterns, designs or motifs into their schemes. But using patterns, designs or motifs in your wedding scheme can make for a unique and individual look. Here are a few to consider. Polka Dots - These are a big look for weddings at the moment.

Men today have come to a place where evolution is necessary in order to resurrect the essential role that we play in our species. Men have learned over the years that only two extremes exist: 1) the animalistic, agressive male, or 2) the passive, indecisive, disempowered male The emergence ...

I’ve had some Christian people tell me they think they married the wrong person? More times tha I can keep count. If you think you married the wrong person then who would be the right person? If we dwell on feelings that are negative about our spouse, our mind will play tricks on us. It will tell us how to behave according to those feelings and we will think we married the wrong person. Christian’s are commanded to marry in the Lord. What does that mean? It means that if you married another believe than how can it be wrong?

With the possible exception of trial lawyers, no one really enjoys arguing—especially when it comes to relationships. However, while arguments are bound to crop up from time to time, with a little practice and effort, you can learn to head them off at the pass. So the next time you feel yourself or your significant other gearing up for a fight, try these three simple tips to diffuse the situation. In no time, you’ll be learning to communicate more and argue less.

Real Love Is Colorblind By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The romantic 1955 movie, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, tells the story of an American reporter who falls in love with a Eurasian doctor. And as you might have guessed, they encounter prejudice from both of their families. Such prejudice was, unfortunately, all too common in 1955. It is all too common in 2011.

People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness. -- Albert Ellis Maybe you've heard the joke that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness. Actually, the good kind of self-talk can actually save your marriage and other relationships. For a good marriage, who do you think is the most important person with whom you should communicate well? If you think it's your spouse, think again.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Frankly, if we hear yet one more person talk about infidelity in a relationship as if it were okay, not a big deal, and forgivable, we are going to get angry! We have studied the best marriages for nearly 28 years and we know this – the best marriages would never engage in unfaithfulness – they would never engage in infidelity.

Like John and Diana, all couples experience communication problems at one time or another. However, couples can move beyond arguing by developing their communication skills. My experience shows that a Relationship Advice process is very powerful for providing several successful strategies for overcoming such disagreements. It is a good solution to many relationship issues; an alte ative to a long and costly traditional Marriage Counseling process.For the theoretical background of this approach see Relationship Advice counseling

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Make no mistake about it – great marriages require unencumbered time! You have read our musings about the fundamental predisposition of every human being to have time alone – to have time only to their private thoughts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Who says celebrity marriages don’t last? We guess you might say, “They’d be wrong!”

Many singles are conflicted about marrying. They yearn for the fulfillment a good marriage brings but are afraid to commit. They fear it won't work out, which given the current high rate of marriage failures, is understandable. It should come as no surprise that it takes a leap of faith to marry. The example below shows how one woman resolved her conflict about marrying. Her major challenges were learning to believe in herself and gaining trust that she could succeed. How to Gain Faith

By America's #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Today is a day to remember! Our publisher officially released our multiple award-winning book in paperback! Our labor of love – our heart’s work for the past 26+ years – has come to fruition in a format that will reach even more people.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. All too often in life, people fall in love blindly. They refuse to make note of how the actions of another person define them. They pay too much attention to words and way too little to actions. Here is an undeniable truth about people – actions speak louder than words! We know, you’ve heard this all before! But the truth is, you can, and must, judge a man by his actions and not by his words!

The Six Steps of ‘Save Your Relationship’ Marriage Counseling Guide Six steps of my Marriage Counseling processes are reviewed; the various qualities of being a marriage counselor, a psychologist, a life coach and a relationship advice provider are outlined. Step # 1: I ask to speak loud and clear; to lay the problems on the table. I want to fully understand as quickly as possible. Describing a recent fight in detail often helps partners begin to identify core problems.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. It is said that some 200 million stems of roses will be sold in the USA on Valentine's Day 2011. Imagine that! That’s a lot of expressions of love don’t you think! We Americans love Valentine’s Day. We relish the opportunity to express our love to the one we love, and we do it through multiple venues.

What does the immensely popular book, "The Boys in the Boat" have to do with marriage? Hint: Ask yourself what you think a great marriage looks like? Spouses enjoying being together, basically in harmony for a lifetime? Or does "happily married" sound to you like an impossible dream? Cynicism about marriage is common these days. Fairy tales that finish with "and they lived happily ever after" don't mention a key ingredient in marriage. Nor do novels and movies give credence to the importance of this element: Teamwork. Roles of Spouses No Longer Fixed

All brides are beautiful on their wedding day. But you may not feel too beautiful a few months before the big day - your arms look big, your belly looks fat and your body just looks out of shape. In short, you want a few improvements on your body without the surgical enhancements.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Our current European trip is part of our continuing search for great marriages around the world. This time our travels have brought us to the tiny principality of Andorra.

The Look of Love in Brazil By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In Middle America, marriage is in trouble! So say W. Bradford Wilcox of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and Elizabeth Marquardt of the Center for Marriage and Families Institute for American Values in New York City.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Commit to the seven core values of successful love and marriage and you can make your Valentine’s Day the best ever.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In our many travels around the world conducting our marriage research, we are often ask this question – “Does Marriage Improve With Age?” The answer is, YES! Here’s why.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Our ongoing search for the world’s best marriages took us to Gibraltar today, or as some refer to it – the Rock of Gibraltar. Doing interviews with happily married couples there seemed like a nice transitional thing to do since we are on our way to North Africa to interview Muslim couples for the first time in our many travels around the world. We will land in Morocco on Thursday.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.