Relationships

I am the ultimate people pleaser. I put others’ needs before my own; I do everything in my power to make others happy; and only then do I think about me. In my humble opinion, this makes me a loyal, dependable friend… but it doesn’t come without its weaknesses. At…

Oftentimes, we take for granted those who mean the most to us: our significant others, our best friends, even (and especially) our beloved family members. This is natural, and we’re all guilty of doing it, but that’s not to say that we can’t put a little extra effort into showing…

The topic of conversation on my favorite radio show this morning was the new-age approach to meeting and mingling with others: online dating. But they weren’t talking about any average guy or gal signing up for Match.com or swiping left and right on Tinder—they were talking about married guys and…

I’m not going to pretend like I’m a dating expert—in fact, I’m far from it. I’ve gone on a few dates here and there, but I’m notorious for canceling just days (sometimes hours) before. I know what you’re thinking, what a jerk. And I completely agree with you. It’s just…

If you had to define love using just three words, what three words would you use? Your answer would most likely differ from mine. Why? Because everybody has at least slightly different views on and experiences with love—of which shape their response to the question above. Now, with this in…

Maybe your relationship is hanging by a thread; or maybe your relationship “couldn’t be better.” In either and any regard, you could benefit from couples counseling. Couples counseling is designed to help couples weather any current, future, or potential storm—which means even if you fall into the “it couldn’t be…

Breakups are tough—but the following weeks, months, sometimes years, are even tougher. You’ve given a little bit of yourself to this person and this relationship, and then it’s all suddenly gone. And you’re left to either pick of the pieces or leave them scattered on the floor. Which do you…

A new study “Brain-to-brain coupling during handholding is associated with pain reduction” says that holding your loved one’s hand during difficult times will synchronize your breathing, heart rate, and brain wave patterns, and ultimately ease your pain. Additionally, the more empathy your partner has for you, the more in sync…

Breakups are rarely easy: you’ve spent valuable time together and gotten to know each other at a deeper level than most. But that doesn’t mean you should or could make the relationship work. If you’ve decided that it’s time to go separate ways, it’s important you communicate that to your…

A few years ago, I lived out the ultimate adventure: I explored Europe for three months and then taught English in Rwanda for five weeks. Every day brought a new and unfamiliar experience with it—I stood atop the beautiful Cliffs of Moher in Ireland; I gawked at the Eiffel tower…

I hate confrontation: I do everything in my power to avoid it, even if that means surrendering my argument or swallowing my feelings. This is okay to do every now and then, such as when you’re bickering with your roommate about who did the dishes last, but it’s taboo for…

This is a heavy question—one I’ve pondered too many times to count. When I was in high school, my boyfriend and I made a sport out of breaking up and getting back together. One week, we were a happy, loving couple, and the next we were failing to weather major…