Valentine’s Day Intimacy Date Idea: Building Connection and Vulnerability With Your Partner

When we think about Valentine’s Day, we might think, flowers, chocolates, and extravagant dinners. But if you’re looking for something more meaningful this Valentine’s day—a way to foster a deeper, more vulnerable connection with your partner—why not focus on building emotional intimacy? Inspired by research on healthy relationships from the Gottmans*, here’s a Valentine’s Day […]

*The Art of Listening (Gottman Style): How to Hear Your Partner

While talking gets a lot of attention in relationships, listening is just as important (if not more so). Experts in relationships at The Gottman Institute highlight that listening isn’t just about hearing words — it’s about truly understanding where your partner is coming from. So, let’s break down the art of listening, Gottman style, to […]

Simply Relationships – Fundamental Attribution Error

“Never attribute to malice what could adequately be explained by ignorance” Over the years we spend with a person we come to believe certain things about them, not all of them good. For example, we may see our partners as “lazy”, “inconsiderate”, or “self-absorbed”. Although these unflattering beliefs can be problematic in themselves, there is […]

Simply Relationships – Having Tough Conversations

“The measure of a healthy relationship is not if we argue, but how we argue.” Every deep relationship has conflict. It is a necessary outcome of connection. The important thing is how that conflict is managed when it happens, and how we repair after a conflict. Today’s post is more about managing conflict when it […]

Simply Relationships – Filling the Love Tank

“Sometimes all you need is a hug from the right person and your stress will melt away” Valentine’s Day can go either way. At its best, it can create deep feelings of gratitude for your partner and your relationship. At its worst, it can highlight everything you feel is wrong or missing in your love […]