A reader emailed us about last week’s blog: “It sounds simple but not easy. I certainly haven’t mastered it yet!” We maintain harmony in our relationship the same way a bike stays in balance when being ridden. It happens with …

Why Those Little Differences Needn’t Be a Problem in Your Relationship Read more »

PHIL: The obvious way that you compare things is by looking at how they differ. Which oven is self-cleaning? Does this bank charge overdraft fees? Less obvious is to look at the similarities, because they don’t help you make choices …

How Can You See Differences in Your Relationships as Welcome Additions? Read more »

How do you sustain a long-term relationship, whether it is with your partner, friends or family? With a new relationship, there are whole new areas to explore that can take years, but as time accumulates, you tend to feel that …

How Do You Keep All Your Long-Term Relationships Vital and Fresh? Read more »

We have been discussing relationship decisions with a few of our friends who are venturing into partnerships, are at the point of “should we live together?”, or are working through some of the complex issues of becoming a couple. We …

What Kind of Commitment Do Each of You Want in Your Relationship? Read more »

PHIL: COVID-19, politics, global warming. Even with these, I’d much rather be alive now than during the Great Plague, yet it’s still very unsettling to realize that in all three areas, life may never return to the way it was. …

Why Both Comfort and Novelty are Important for All Your Relationships Read more »

Whether you are struggling in a partnership, a familial relationship or a close friendship, the challenge remains the same: how do you care for your individual needs and desires and still manifest cooperation? Our answer to this is always the …

How Does Knowing Yourself Help You Find Mutual Solutions In Relationships? Read more »

PHIL: We’re not primarily writing about sex this week, but it’s a useful place to start. What are the odds that you and your sexual partner become aroused at the same time, say 8:00 PM on Friday? If arousal is …

Our Relationship is Harmonious Because We Want it to Be That Way Read more »

Last week we celebrated our wedding anniversary by going up to Scotts Valley and visiting the Redwoods. We stayed in a great AirBnB set apart on a lovely big property in the woods and had a wonderful four days. On …

Why You Benefit From Both Separation and Connection in Your Relationships Read more »