Dear Ann: I love my boyfriend but all he wants to do is smoke pot. At first, I’d smoke with him and we’d have such deep conversations – they were amazing! I’d listen to him while he played his guitar. …
Bringing Expectations into the Values Mix
When we allow others to violate our values, we suffer. Last week we were discussing Tom and Barney’s crumbling relationship due to a lack of discussion about values and expectations. Remember, values designate what is important to us. Expectations are …
A Values Story
In the previous blog, I noted that knowing each other’s values and having like definitions as to how we define each value is probably the most important conversation to be had in any type of relationship. Without having like values, …
Values You Hold in a Relationship
Values are the basic beliefs that guide or motivate your attitudes or actions. They help you to determine what is important to you. And they describe the personal qualities you choose to exemplify: the sort of person you want to …
Valentine’s Day 2019
Tomorrow is the beginning of February. In no time at all, it will be Valentine’s Day. Yes, I’m aware that many of us consider this “day of romance” as one that was created by Hallmark Cards. I was thinking about …
The Struggle to Define Intimacy
Dear Ann: I am pulling my hair out! I hate that my boyfriend won’t talk to me. I mean, REALLY, talk to me. I want to be so close to him but he only wants to talk about work or …
Thinking About Intimacy
What is INTIMACY? So many people struggle with this in their relationships. Just what keeps us from being intimate in how we converse with each other? What are the masks we wear to keep others from knowing our real selves, …
Getting Through Unhappy Romantic Relationships
I’m pleased to announce that my new book in the Let’s Make a Contract series is available on Amazon and at my website. Based on real-life situations with my patients, Getting Through Unhappy Romantic Relationships offers insights not often talked …
Let’s Make a Contract Introduction
5 Ways to Have a Love that Lasts
- Base your decision-making about potential romantic relationships (PRR) on values, not just on chemistry. Research shows overwhelmingly that if you find someone with whom you share values you will have a strong foundation for a long-term romantic relationship. Have the