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March 13, 2008

Cheating husbands like Eliot Spitzer: Could you have known?

You'd have to be from another planet not to be aware of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's infidelity.

His wife, Silda Spitzer, stood by him as he resigned yesterday from his position and if you saw photos of her, you saw how much agony she was in.

Her agony, although more public than a lot of people's, was not unlike what many, many wifes (and husbands) go through each day. They didn't see it coming...but did they?

In coaching woman who have discovered that their husbands have or are having affairs usually about jealousy issues, what stands out most is that they usually will admit that somewhere inside themselves they knew they were being cheated on and for whatever reason, they didn't want to confront it.

Is a woman (or man) wrong for not confronting a spouse's affair?

Of course not, if that's how you want to live your life.

But if you want a marriage that is connected, alive and growing--and you suspect your husband (or wife) is having an affair or not fully in your marriage, you'll want to find out what's going on.

Instead of accusing your spouse of having an affair, we suggest that you approach the situation by talking about wanting to renew your marriage and your connection--maybe rekindle your relationship like it used to be. If there are deep chasms in your marriage, you might suggest counseling as a way to renew your marraige.

If you use this line of approach, it will become clear whether your husband (or wife) wants to have a closer, more connected relationship with you or not--and it will become clear if he or she is involved with someone else.

If the evidence is so obvious that your husband (or wife) is having an affair--like secretive private phone calls, unexplained long hours at work (which you know isn't true) or the tell-tale lip-stick on the collar--then of course, confront him/her with your evidence or suspicions.

If you are jealous and not sure that your husband (or wife) is actually having an affair, then start with yourself first. Decide what you'd like for your relationship and then ask your partner if he/she would like to work toward that goal.

Don't throw out your marriage because of infidelity unless your partner has no interest in stopping and also no interest in making your marriage better. Also, don't stand for repeated infidelity. Learn your lesson and stand up for what you want--and what you don't want.

February 11, 2008

When is the RIGHT time to leave?

questionmark.jpg Here's a question from a woman that many people are living with...

"How do you know WHEN the absolute right thing to do is to leave a relationship/marriage (with problems) or WHEN to say "Hmmm. I need to work on myself and allow him/her to work on him/herself" (while you remain in the relationship together)?

This is a tough one.

So when is the RIGHT time to leave or decide to stay in it and keep working at it?

Continue reading "When is the RIGHT time to leave?" »

December 10, 2007

Heading Off an Affair Before It Happens

coupledancing.jpgWe’ve all heard about the infamous “mid-life crisis” where one person in a seemingly happy marriage becomes dissatisfied with the way life is going and has an affair. Mid-life divorces can be the result of the crisis.

Of course, not all affairs happen after many years of marriage. They occur in relationships where the couple is not married as well as in marriages that are just a few months old. When a couple makes the agreement to be monogamous and this agreement is broken, it is usually an indication of overall disconnection.

So is it possible to head off an affair before it happens?

Continue reading "Heading Off an Affair Before It Happens" »

August 22, 2007

Is Breaking Up Really Hard to Do?

Breaking up and having to deal with a broken heart is something that most people dread. They sometimes spend years putting it off when they know that it's really the "right" thing for them to do. While we're certainly about helping people create the relationships that they really want, we know that sometimes in order to have what you want in your life, you have to leave the partner you are with.

So the question is--Are break-ups really as bad as we all perceive them to be?

There's a new study out that seems to shed a different light on the topic.

Eli Finkel, an assistant professor of psychology at Northwestern University, whose study appears online in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology says "We underestimate our ability to survive heartbreak."

He goes on to say--"People who are more in love really are a little more upset after a breakup, but their perceptions about how distraught they will be are dramatically overstated when compared to reality."

So if we "dramatically" overstate our distraught feelings before we break up, how can you look at your relationship and situation in a way that is more grounded in reality?

Here are some ideas to help you make your break up decision in a healthier way and to survive a break up if one comes your way...

Continue reading "Is Breaking Up Really Hard to Do?" »

May 10, 2007

Divorce: Did These Divorce lawyers Go Over the Line?

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Recently, a billboard in Chicago caused so much controversy that it was removed because it was "selling" divorce.

The billboard said, "Life's short. Get a divorce."

The lawyers who bought the advertisement said that they were not selling divorce but wanted to get the meaning across that life truly was short and that we were all meant to be in relationships that made us happy--not ones that had died a long time ago.

So what do we think about all of this?

Continue reading "Divorce: Did These Divorce lawyers Go Over the Line?" »

April 19, 2007

Dealing With Virginia Tech, Chaos and Tragedy

We've all have had to deal with tragedy at some level at different times in our lives. It might have been personal injury or disease, the lose of a job, the death of a loved one, or the death of a relationship.

This week, just like you, we've watched as the story from Blacksburg, Virginia and Virginia Tech has unfolded about a very troubled student and how his rage ended in tragedy for many families.

Whether we know anyone at Virginia Tech or not, we all have been affected on some level by the massacre that happened there this week.

We've watched as the students and people from all over the world have come together for comfort and support,
calling themselves a family.

We've also watched as commentators have blamed the officials in one way or another. We all have different meanings and interpretations about what it all means to us.

So the question is--How do we deal with this tragedy or with any tragedy in our lives?

Continue reading "Dealing With Virginia Tech, Chaos and Tragedy" »

March 01, 2007

Tips on Easing the Pain after a Break up or Divorce

One of the most painful events you can go through in your life is the loss of a partner--whether it be from death or from divorce. The effects of the stress of these life changing events are well documented and there are many variations of life stressor lists and what these stressors do to us.

At the top of most lists is death of spouse/partner and this particular list that we found includes divorce and separation as the #2 and #3 stressors.

So coming through a divorce or separation with ease and with as little pain as possible is usually a pretty difficult thing to do.

Here are a few things that we've found to ease the pain after a break up or divorce and help you to get on with your life...

Continue reading "Tips on Easing the Pain after a Break up or Divorce" »

January 31, 2007

Do You Have to Break Up if You Want Different Things?

One of the biggest problems that many couples face is finding themselves in the situation where one person is happy with the relationship the way it is and the other person wants to make changes to make the relationship better.

Even if you are in a really good relationship, there's usually something that one person might want and the other person doesn't or isn't interested in changing.

Here's what one of our newsletter subscribers asked...

"If you are looking to change the relationship, whether it is for more passion or something else, and your partner is not interested, is the only option breaking up? I feel like if you stay together knowing you are looking for something different or more, you may have regrets later in life. Is that true?"

While the decision of whether to leave a relationship, for whatever reason, is certainly an individual one, we believe that there are some ways to explore to see if other options emerge if you are in this kind of situation.

Continue reading "Do You Have to Break Up if You Want Different Things?" »

January 22, 2007

Marriage: How to Cope with Changes throughout the Years

One of the challenges in a long-term marriage or relationship is that the two people change through the years and these changes usually cause conflicts and disagreements.

Here's a question from a woman who is facing this kind of challenge in her long-term relationship and our advice to her...

"I have been battling with my husband of 25 years lately about the changes he has made in our marriage. He recently started playing poker with his buddies (which is fine). He stays at this guys house until 2:00 - 3:00 AM in the morning playing poker. I have come to deal with that since he doesn't do it often and not more than once a week.

"After that he started going religiously every Friday afternoon to sit and have a few beers with this same guy. He is never too busy to do this.

"I do not like this person. I feel he is a bad influence on my husband and I have asked him to curtail the amount of time he spends with him. Instead now - we are being invited every weekend to go hang out with him and his wife. I am okay with everyone now and then, but not every weekend.

"He thinks I am being ridiculous. When I ask him to do things around the house - he is too busy. I have compromised and told him that I will hang out with this guy once a month, but not every weekend. He tells me he will do what he wants and if I have a problem with it, I can pack my bags and leave.

"Remember - this isn't how my husband has ever acted in the past. He respected my feelings and at least tried to understand how I felt. Now, I just get this cold shoulder and he says he will do what he wants with no regard to my feelings or respect for how I feel.

"This guy goes to bars late at night without his wife and thinks that is okay. He drinks too much and is an alcoholic. He is dragging my husband right along with him and I do not like it.

"What do I do? We continually fight about this over and over and it just seems that my husband just hangs out with him more and more. What is it about this guy that he is willing to jeopardize his 25 year marriage over?"

Here's our advice...

--

Continue reading "Marriage: How to Cope with Changes throughout the Years" »

November 06, 2006

Divorce, Guilt and Allowing Happiness

The decision to separate and divorce is never an easy choice to make, especially when there are children to be considered. There are usually many factors that go into making that kind of decision but it usually boils down to one of two ideas--"What will bring me the most love?" or "What will bring me the least amount of pain?"

Here's a question from a reader who has been in a relationship with a married man and is trying to understand why he is choosing to stay in an unhappy marriage--

"I have never gotten over the love of my life who chose to stay in a marriage for a child. but we travel in the same circle of friends and the story is always the same. they are still unhappy. so, when? when do we accept that we are allowed mistakes in life and are allowed to be happy? why is so much quilt present even after you have really tried?"

This woman is certainly in a painful and not too uncommon situation where she finds that she frequently interacts with someone she secretly loves and there doesn't seem to be any hope that the two of them will ever be together.

Here are a few of our thoughts about this...

Continue reading "Divorce, Guilt and Allowing Happiness" »

October 12, 2006

Divorce? Should You Hang in There or Leave?

Divorce is probably one of the most difficult decisions that many people face in their lives. Here's one woman's struggle around this issue...

"My husband and I have been together for a total of 17 years. We have been married for 14 years. Through most of our relationship he has been very passive aggressive. In the relationship itself it eventually took on a form of it's own called, "emotional abuse". Several months ago I filed for divorce and told him that I wanted this and why. He said that he did not want out of the marriage. We are trying to reconcile now. He has since gotten counseling for his own issues and is no longer passive aggressive. I am still finding myself unhappy. I have discovered that the emotional abuse that I endured over the years was masking an even bigger problem. We really didn't know how to communicate with each other. It feels like we are now "peacefully co-existing". I am not happy in this marriage, but I am terrified of being single again because it's been so long that we've been together. We have a 12 year old child together. He does not meet my needs, nor does he know how to meet my needs. I am very lonely in this marriage. To make things worse, he no longer has any immediate family members. They either do not speak, or they have died. I do have some immediate family members, but they do not live near me. I am still undecided. I feel like we've been through this much already, why give up now?"

Here's the advice we give to her and to others in similar situations...

Continue reading "Divorce? Should You Hang in There or Leave?" »

September 28, 2006

Separation--Knowing When It's Time to Call it Quits

Today we received this question and thought it was a good one for us to give a few comments...

"I have been in a relationship for almost 3 years- we were friends for five years before we dated. For the last year he has become rather difficult - not affectionate, when i talk about affection he gets angry and says I am not happy with him - I talk about us going out on dates - he gets irritated - he gets irritated easily anyway - stressed - I fell in love with this man cause he is a Christian or claims to be, His 17 year old daughter is rude to me and i talk to him about it and he tells me to talk to her - We are not married - so I feel it is his place to talk to her - a few weeks ago - we were talking and he told me i was not marriage or mom material - I raised two boys by myself on $10,000/year, they were in 4h and sports - then later he denies saying it. He says can you see something like that coming out of my mouth - well you said it, we had a discussion about it. Meanwhile, because I was upset about that - he told me he needed his space - I cannot hangout with him and his kids anymore - I have my dogs at his house and I had a fish tank at his house. I got the fish tank yesterday - He does not understand why I cannot sit with him at church anymore or why I have to move my dogs - 5 years of friendship and he just shuts it off. We also went to the Song of Solomon couples counseling. PLEASE HELP ME"

Here's our advice to this woman and any other person in her situation...

Continue reading "Separation--Knowing When It's Time to Call it Quits" »

August 12, 2006

"He Doesn't Love Me"

This week, we received this question...

"My husband just told me he doesn't love me. This is after 10 years of going to marital counseling off and on because I asked him to. What now?" Sandy

This is probably one of the most painful processes a person has to go through--finding out that your spouse doesn't love you.

You ask, "What now?"

Continue reading ""He Doesn't Love Me"" »

April 21, 2006

Jealousy and Office Flirtations

One of the biggest questions we get around the topic of jealousy concerns office flirtations--or flirtations with people other than their partner. Many people are caught in the "flirtation trap" and they or their partner can't figure out how to get out of it or have no desire to get out of it.

The "flirtation trap" goes like this...

Whether it's with a willing office co-worker, a person in a chat room, or through a dating service--the "flirtation trap" starts innocently enough with an email message, lunch or a cup of coffee. What starts innocently can and often does turn into an obsession with the other person and neglect of a partner. The two people caught in the "flitation trap" can move into physical intimacy or not.

Whether the flirtation moves into physical intimacy or not, the people who are caught in the trap can cause many problems for themselves and for others in their lives, largely because they aren't willing to look at really what's happening and the underlying causes.

Continue reading "Jealousy and Office Flirtations" »

January 27, 2006

Healing after Your Relationship Breakup or Divorce

Most of us have gone through a relationship breakup sometime in our lives. Whether it's a high school romance or a 30 year marriage, the breakup can be devastating to you and usually is a life-changing event. We've written a book called "How to Heal Your Broken Heart: The Secrets to Getting over a Relationship Breakup or Divorce" to help people heal their pain, let go of what was or could have been and move on to a better life.

Although there can be many steps a person takes to get over a relationship breakup or divorce, there seem to be four big ones that can help anyone move toward healing.

Continue reading "Healing after Your Relationship Breakup or Divorce" »

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Red Hot Love Relationships

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7 Intimacy Secrets DVD

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How to Heal Your Broken Heart

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No More Jealousy

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Should You Stay or Should You Go?

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Communication Magic

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Relationship Attractor Factor

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Relationship Trust

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