Ending your day angry at your spouse can cause a lot of harmful effects. Here are just a few of those consequences. First, bricks are added to the wall that divides you as a couple. And as the wall gets higher, the division gets wider. Second, when you go to sleep angry, it’s hard to have a fresh start the next day. That last thing on your mind at night often becomes the first thing on your mind the next day....

All couples have disagreements. Much of the time, these fights are like brush fires—they come out of nowhere and overwhelm us with flames. And just like a real fire, the fires in our marriages require us to do three things: stop, drop, and roll. First, we must stop. This means stopping a healthy debate from escalating into an unhealthy argument by taking a break at the first sign it is getting out of control....

It’s not just the decisions themselves that impact your family; it’s also how you go about making them. Healthy decisions tend to be the ones that are made using a healthy process. Be committed to the principle that no big decision should be made without the full input and consideration of your spouse. Decisions made without a spouse’s input communicate, “I don’t value or need your opinion and perspective…I got...

Of all the sports that make up the 2014 Winter Olympics, there is one that’s a lot like marriage: cross-country skiing.  So how can you learn to go for the gold in our marriage from this timeless sport?  First, you can learn to prepare for different terrains.  Some days you’ll glide freely in your marriage. Other days may feel relationally cold and icy.  Be prepared for these different terrains by having a...

Susan and I have been married 24 years. After so many years, you’d think we would have smooth sailing in our relationship all the time, right? Well, not really. We still argue. And, more often than not, it’s usually about the same two or three things…like my sometimes critical spirit towards Susan.  So, what can be done about the same old marriage fights? First, identify the root cause of the problem. Once you and...

We all know that men and women often communicate in very different ways. So to find out how not to communicate with your wife, I decided to ask my own wife, Susan, for some helpful tips.  First, she told me never to approach your wife with attack intensity.  She explained that when communicating with a forceful attitude rather than a soft demeanor, your wife will become defensive.  Second, she warned that a...

In marriage, it’s wise to think first…then think again…and then say what’s on your mind.  For example, your spouse forgets to take out the trash for the hundredth time, or leaves the garage door open after you’ve asked them to close it when they get home.  Well, before you let them have it…wait. Think about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.  The goal should be to help your spouse understand...