(Our thanks to Oscar Wilde for the title.) MAUDE: The day before Christmas I found myself in a strange and unaccustomed place. I felt sad, deeply sad, and somewhat lonely. I know this is common for many around the holidays, …
The Importance of Being Honest in a Relationship Read more »
MAUDE: I was talking to my grandson about the coming of the New Year, and he asked if we were going to be able to go outside and play with friends and go back to school without worrying. While I …
We were contacted this week by a reader asking about the difference between an argument and a disagreement because the distinction was causing confusion between her, her husband and their adult daughter. These words mean different things to different people, …
How To Avoid a Disagreement Becoming an Argument Read more »
PHIL: I often read aloud after we retire at night, and we’ve been reading one of our favorites for the second time: “Ten Poems to Set You Free.” Last night we read “Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long …
Each of us has an inner voice that resonates with what is true. That spirit of truth tells you that love is real. And yet that very reality is being assailed. This disturbing trend has had serious repercussions. It underlies …
Choose Love, Not Fear, in All Your Relationships Read more »
MAUDE: The cornerstone of peaceful conflict-free relating is the practice of mutuality: the certainty that it is possible to find mutual solutions and the act of creating them. This requires the ability to search beyond differences to find the matching …
Why is Mutuality Important in Your Relationships? Read more »
We often describe something we call total acceptance, but what do we actually mean by that term? Well, first let’s discuss what we don’t mean. We don’t mean that you should accept abuse or bullying or attempts at dominance. We …
PHIL: Last week we wrote about recognizing that each person is an individual with their own way of doing things, but of course, that brings up the question of what to do when differences arise in a relationship. It seems …
How to See Your Relationship in Terms of Important Core Values Read more »
One of the deepest and, yes sacred, parts of any relationship is the total mutual respect for each other’s individuality. Your partner – and everyone else – is different from you. You may think that is too obvious to even …
It’s Important to Honor Individuality in Your Relationships Read more »
In the last months, as we have written and shared how we and others are coping with these tumultuous times, something has become very clear. We get a strong response of agreement, empathy and understanding whenever we share personally about …
How to Think Differently About Your Relationships Read more »