One useful way to manage happiness in a relationship is to look on it as a bank account. As with traditional bank accounts, you can make deposits and withdrawals, and in order for your relationship to be happy, you need to maintain a relatively high balance. Remembering the little things like showing and declaring your

When you’re facing a big sacrifice for your significant other, there are a few things to consider. How committed are you? If you’re confident about your future together and fully invested in the relationship, then making a big sacrifice may be easier. As you’re deciding if you’ll make a sacrifice, is your partner doing the

The popular definition of a soul mate is associated with finding the perfect partner, one who always makes us feel good and with whom there is little conflict. However, when that initial ecstatic period fades, people holding this illusion can become disenchanted with their partners and end the relationship because they believe they have not

There are some fundamental issues on which couples should agree or compromise in order to create a happy relationship. Couples should agree about what they want out of the relationship. Incompatibility in this area can cause major problems later, for example if one person wants marriage and the other doesn’t. Long-term goals are also important.

Giving compliments has many advantages: you will be well liked by others, you’ll receive compliments in return, and everyone’s well-being will be enhanced. When they receive compliments, people feel appreciated and valued. When you compliment others, you’ll feel generous and big-hearted. A good compliment is one that voices something you genuinely like about another person,

Recently President Obama shared how he’s managed to have a successful marriage: “Just do whatever she tells you to.” While some jokingly use this line of reasoning, it’s actually detrimental to relationships. The Mirage Man Syndrome, in which men acquiesce to everything their wife wants in order to buy peace and love, may start out

Friendships can have murky moral territories. This is especially true when you’re in a relationship and have a friend of the opposite sex. There are certain times when it is okay to continue this kind of friendship, but other times it may not be appropriate. If you have been friends for a long time and

While it’s impossible to predict the future of your relationship, certain factors are conducive to a healthy relationship. If you grew up in a functional family where parents were good relationship role models and worked well together psychologically, you have a good background for a functional relationship. Marrying for positive reasons is another indicator of

If you were in a long-term relationship that ended abruptly, you may have many questions and unresolved feelings that could haunt you for years. Trying to find closure in this situation may be impossible. Your former spouse may never admit to remorse or wrong-doing in his or her actions. The best advice you can follow

Divorce comes with a complex tangle of emotions. Sadness, depression, confusion, anger, and fear are all common to separated couples. Even if you believe your marriage is ending or your spouse is unwilling to go, counseling can help you develop coping strategies to handle the upheaval divorce will cause in your life. It may take