Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide

LISTENER'S QUESTION: "If you heard the story of my 18 year relationship, even you might be surprised Over the last couple of years we really tested the boundaries of us being together Now we are better , stronger , more intimate and communicative than ever before We both proclaim most every day how happy we are that we each stood for the relationship when the other faltered The harshest part we went through was my pulling away , near infidelity emotionally which caused me to questioned "us" and although that was short-lived , I did pull away for a couple of years emotionally and physically About the time I was coming back to wanting to repair he started talking to someone at work who pursued him He said he knew it the beginning she was nothing he wanted, but he was drawn in because she gave him what I was not ; attention. They had been talking a month already when I found out Once I found out he almost immediately tried to break it off with the other person but she kept drawing him back and for several months he felt like he was in a vortex of emotions I stood for us this time I listened to you and other podcasts and after a few months he made a clean break and we moved forward After 17 years together and me saying no to getting married , we got married He said it's what he wanted all these years So I would love to hear a podcast on infidelity, limerence and that it can be overcome Your relationship can be stronger and it can even be a wake up call It was a blessing in disguise for us I love your shows so much I feel like you are right here talking to me I listen to the ones that don't seem like they apply as I now know relationships are like a living entity and always changing I want to forever stay on top of my game I share the cliff notes with my hubby and they open up great conversations Thank you for this gift Love and light" (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) HOW TO SURVIVE INFIDELITY: Infidelity undoubtedly puts a lot of strain on a relationship, but in some cases an affair can make your relationship stronger. Experiencing a crisis period is normal: Feeling turmoil, rage, and great despair. Reeling with confusion and betrayal. Feels like an assault to the bond. Feels shattering to dreams, goals, and connection. Previous trauma and other issues can make the dynamics more complicated. Previous affairs. Past traumas. Sexual addiction. Low self-worth and self-esteem. Dealing with hard truths about self and relationship is necessary to move forward in a productive manner. Affairs are often an alert that something isn't being dealt with within the relationship. Loss of attention to sexual connection and love life (i.e. "loss of "erotic tension"). Couple has been in autopilot. Unspoken needs (sexual and emotional). Too much control and constriction (too many rules – can't do this, can't do that). Dissatisfaction. Hiding from each other. Acknowledging choice points and decisions made will be important to confront, as the dishonesty and deception can be more disturbing than the actual sexual affair. Lies and deception. Denial, justification and rationalizations. Avoidance, fear and insecurities. Discontent, disconnect and pain. Unilateral decision making. In order to make room for a stronger connection, partners need to be ready to be accountable and take ownership. Seek awareness, insight, and understanding about self and partner. Be really honest about your experience. Even if the meaning of the affair is fuzzy, try to be in the place of exploration. Being really honest and present creates an opening for connection. Breakdown for a break through. Prioritize the goal of seeking to understanding. Create a space for an honest and safe dialogue. Regardless of your choice of how to move forward, you will get a lot more out of this approach then trying to attack or punish out of hurt and pain. Openness to asking and answering tough questions with truth. Clear the dishonesty. Perception checking (not feeling crazy or going off into fear based fantasies). Gain clarity. Having compassion and empathy for one another. Deep healing for pain and transgressions that occurred (i.e. "Sorry I ignored you." "Sorry I went else where."). Start to rebuild trust. Being willing to tolerate uncertainty. Avoid premature decision-making. Have patience for the process. Resist the urge to take short cuts. Look at what is real and true. It can be incredibly revealing. Develop shared meaning about the affair. What is true (i.e. about self and relationship)? What is the learning? What is the growth? Is there a new foundation to stand on? TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 104: How Can Infidelity Make Your Relationship Stronger? [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

LISTENER'S COMMENT: "I've been listening to your podcasts for the past few weeks and I'd like to say thank you for the insight and information. Unfortunately it's too late to help in my current marriage, but it is very insightful. Coming from a family with parents that didn't show love to one another I never learned how to express it in a productive way. My wife recently filed for divorce and it has placed me in a state of shock. I've been reflecting on our relationship, going to therapy and attending AA to help through this rough time and realize how broken I am … Nevertheless I am hopeful that I can become a better person in the long run and express myself fully with all those I encounter and your words and guests keep me going. Your podcasts have taught me new skills and opened my eyes to the reality of how to build a strong productive relationship and they also help me get through the rough days. I hope that others will hear you before it's too late and work on developing themselves. God bless you and once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart." (PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT TO HEAR MORE EXPLANATIONS, STORIES AND EXAMPLES.) In this podcast episode, I share quotes and excerpts from Intimate Relationship as a Spiritual Crucible, by John Welwood. I also discuss client stories that exemplify these concepts. Here are a few from the show: "While most people would like to have healthy, satisfying relationships in their lives, the truth is that everyone has a hard time with intimate partnerships." by John Welwood "For one person to love another, this is the most difficult of all our tasks." by Rilke "After numerous hardships and failures, many people have given up on intimate relationship, regarding the relational terrain as so fraught with romantic illusion and emotional hazards that it is no longer worth the energy." by John Welwood "Although modern relationships are particularly challenging, their very difficulty presents a special arena for personal and spiritual growth." by John Welwood "Yet opening to another also flushes to the surface all kinds of conditioned patterns and obstacles that tend to shut this connection down: our deepest wounds, our grasping and desperation, our worst fears, our mistrust, our rawest emotional trigger points." by John Welwood "Many of us have a cartoon-like notion of relational bliss: that it should provide a steady state of security or solace that will save us from having to face the gritty, painful, difficult areas of life. We imagine that finding or marrying the right person will spare us from having to deal with such things as loneliness, disappointment, despair, terror, or disintegration. Yet anyone who has been married for a long time probably has some knowledge of the charnel ground quality of relationship" by John Welwood "The problem with running away when a relationship becomes difficult is that we are also turning away from ourselves and our potential breakthroughs. Fleeing the raw, wounded places in ourselves because we don't think we can handle them is a form of self-rejection and self-abandonment that turns our feeling body into an abandoned, haunted house. The more we flee our shadowy places, the more they fester in the dark and the more haunted this house becomes. And the more haunted it becomes, the more it terrifies us. This is a vicious circle that keeps us cut off from and afraid of ourselves." "One of the scariest places we encounter in relationship is a deep inner sense of unlove, where we don't know that we're truly lovable just for being who we are, where we feel deficient and don't know our value. This is the raw wound of the heart, where we're disconnected from our true nature, our inner perfection. Naturally we want to do everything we can to avoid this place, fix it, or neutralize it, so we'll never have to experience such pain again." by John Welwood "In relationship, it is two partners' greater beings, gradually freeing themselves from the prison of conditioned patterns, that bring about this decisive defeat. And as this starts reverberating through their relationship, old expectations finally give way, old movies stop running, and a much larger acceptance than they believed possible can start opening up between them. As they become willing to face and embrace whatever stands between them—old relational wounds from the past, personal pathologies, difficulties hearing and understanding each other, different values and sensitivities—all in the name of loving and letting be, they are invited to "enter into reality." Then it becomes possible to start encountering each other nakedly, in the open field of nowness, fresh and unfabricated, the field of love forever vibrating with unimagined possibilities." by John Welwood MENTIONED: Build Happy, Love Presentation (webinar replay link – expires 4/17/17) Relationship Map (opt-in download – you will want this for the webinar) Connected Couple Information page (only accepting 20 couples) Discount code: cc500w (expires 4/17/17) Intimate Relationship as a Spiritual Crucible TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 103: How Love Can Transform Us In Relationship [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

In this episode, you will hear me share a personal story of dealing with continual roadblocks. I also offer 4 tips on how to deal with the experience of things not working out as planned. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) HOW TO DEAL WITH THINGS NOT WORKING OUT 1. Understand that experiencing hardship is a normal part of living. There is nothing wrong with you. 2. Surrender the need to control the process. Accept the reality of what you are going through. The more we resist pain the more suffering we experience. Sometimes we need a breakdown to have a breakthrough. 3. Be present with what you are feeling. This is so hard when things are not going well. You may need time to reflect and connect with what you are feeling. You may need a good cry or an empathic ear from a trusted person. Take time to feel what is real. 4. Listen and be receptive. You may get a new insight or new perspective that feels like an opening to something new. Be open to your intuition, inner wisdom and guidance. "The turning point at the crest is when you reach the most materialistic, extroverted view of life, when materialization is complete and we feel 'high' and successful. In physics terms, the wave has become a particle. The most challenging time may be when the wave turns at the trough – when you're bored, feel things fading, need space, and must release meaning and what's outmoded in order to return to Being. In studying physics, this is where the particle becomes the wave. Moving from the trough to crest seems like the fun part because it involves enthusiasm, motivation, and achieving goals. But releasing old forms, relaxing, dreaming of multiple imaginary realities, and rejuvenating ourselves are every bit as pleasurable. Chronic resistance to the turning points of wave can cause exaggerated dramatic shifts, such as crises and traumas." By Penney Peirce MENTIONED: How To Build A Happy, Lasting Love – Webinar (webinar link) What To Do When Nothing Is Working Out By Ruth Lera (article) Frequency: The Power of Personal Vibration By Penney Peirce (book) Agape (website) Mary Morrissey (website) Glenwood Hot Springs (website) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 102: What Do You Do When NOTHING Is Working Out? [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

Jeff is a Reichian/Somatic Psychotherapist in Boulder, Colorado who works with men, women, couples, Men's groups, and members of the LGBTQ community in an emotion-focused, body-centered way. His work centers on relationship—both with self and other—and the ways that unacknowledged trauma can inform how we are in relationship. He also works in the realms of soul & shadow, while using awareness practices as a means to clarify our unique purpose in life. In this episode, Jeff Howard talks with us about conventional views on relationship and intimacy can hinder and harm us. He helps give us some tools on how to gain more authenticity and wholeness within our intimate partnerships. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to gain access to the full conversation, points, and examples.) JEFF HOWARD TALKED ABOUT: Breaking down the belief that romantic relationship is the only source for intimacy and connection, as it is too much pressure for our partners to fulfill our every need. "My okayness doesn't rely on my partner's approval." Healthy differentiation is about not over relying on other people for our wellness. Focusing on process over product. Letting go of the need to be perfect. "Showing up a little messy." Looking at how we take these personally. Shifting into being curious. "Slow down and take a breath to consider another option." The importance of proactively becoming aware of your wounds and tender spots as well as your partner's wounds and tender spots. Being in the practice of checking in with your partner and being in communication on a regular basis. Having a safe space to process can be really helpful (especially with really tricky topics). How most of us do not have good models or examples of how to deal conflict well. Helping men (and women) acknowledge their many different parts (especially the parts that we want to deny or consider shameful). How we often do not tell the whole truth. How to deal with anger more effectively. How to look at our triggers and patterns with more awareness. MENTIONED: Jeff Howard – Three Leaves Counseling (website) How To Build A Happy, Lasting Love – Webinar (webinar link) ERP 083: How Vibrant Community Helps Support Healthy Relationship With Christiane Pelmas (podcast episode) Bill Plotkin (website- about) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 101: How To Move Into Wholeness With Jeff Howard [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

WHAT DOES A SUCCESSFUL, THRIVING, PASSIONATE RELATIONSHIP LOOK LIKE? In this episode, I share with you a little about my personal story and what led me to studying this topic. I also share with you three of the nine themes that came out of my dissertation research. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) 3 BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A CONSCIOUS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP Here are three themes from my dissertation research: 1. ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP IN UNKNOWN TERRITORY Little Support: Old paradigms didn't work. Little guidance (i.e."no one ever shows them how to create it") Little modeling. One participant commented on having difficulty recalling any successful relationship that he admired at all. Creating a Conscious Intimate Relationship: Many partners had done a level of personal growth before entering into relationship. They had very clear, defined desires of what they wanted in a partner and the type of relationship. They were not willing to settle for "another ill-conceived relationship" Developed Relationship Model: Most partners experienced unresolved conflict and/or disillusionment with other approaches towards relationship. One participant reflected that before he gained more self-knowledge, awareness, and development, he was primarily focused on protecting himself in relationship. Many participants seem to agree that the notion of an easy, romantic relationship was largely an illusion, and that love and relationship require choice and conscious effort to cultivate and maintain. All of the participants experienced doubts, fears, or hardships within their relationships and concluded that facing these challenges brought them to deeper levels of love and intimacy. Change in Relationship: While many couples entered into relationship with an existing personal commitment to growth and spirituality, other couples developed a growth orientation during the course of their relationship. Many couples reported that engaging in therapy, meditation, workshops, and readings had a significant effect on their relationship and assisted in the formation of a more growth oriented model of relationship. One couple spoke about attending a lecture where they felt a deep connection had been made, and that they now of this as a turning point in their relationship. For couples who developed a growth orientation within their relationship, this change was sequential in that one partner changed, and then in turn the other partner began to change their perspective over time Regardless of when partners developed a growth orientation, the process is very similar. Many couples shifted their perspective into a growth perspective by dealing with either personal or relationship difficulties or disillusionment with other models. 2. RELATIONSHIP AS A JOURNEY PARADIGM Growth Orientation: Partners recognized their relationship as a vehicle for both individual and relationship growth and discovery. "Our relationship is a process through which we grow and expand. At our better moments, we use whatever comes forward in our marriage as an opportunity to expand our sense of who we are and deepen our capacity to forgive and love." A growth-oriented relationship was often associated with a sense of richness and aliveness because life events and difficulties were defined as opportunities for learning and transformation. Couples viewed their relationship as a laboratory for growth and support "We will use our experiences for us instead of against us. Our goal is to use everything for our advancement, upliftment, and growth." Through relationship, couples had the opportunity to meet the challenges "with skillful softening and slowing down and opening it up and being a little more loving and thoughtful about how it gets navigated". Through staying together and facing challenges, couples reported being better people. Couples also spoke about the process of growth, which helped them expand and open up to a greater capacity of joy, love, and happiness. "intimate interactions, such as love, connection, passion, and any other desired relational experience is a self created choice that may take various degrees of arduousness to maintain, such as challenging and restructuring aspects of one's belief system. This differs from a more conventional notion that intimacy, which often is viewed as a passive, uncontrollable, instantaneous romantic emotional exchange or feeling that happens to one's self, such as those indicated by the common clichés "love at first sight" or "swept off one's feet." (p. 103) " The majority of participants acknowledged that in the process of their relationship, their unconscious patterns, shadow material, wounding, and deeper conditioning came up. Partners reported experiencing challenges, difficulties, and struggles along their journey, but the "friction" always led to growth. To realize one's true self, one had to work with one's unconscious material, "where all of one's emotional wounds, fears, and self loathing/rejection reside." Relationship as Teacher: Partners viewed their relationship as a "workroom" in which healing and growth can take place. Couples expressed using their interactions as a source of information to gain insight and understanding about areas of potential growth for themselves. Couples claimed to value the instructive potential of conflicts and challenges because they were able to recognize qualities about themselves to which they would not have otherwise had access. When a partner is in pain, both partners have the opportunity to work with the issue in a productive and constructive way. As partners confront their shortcomings and pain, there is an opportunity to free themselves of habitual reactions and ultimately deepening the experience of one's self. Companions on the Path: Partners expressed seeing and believing in each other's potential, strength, and basic goodness. Couples also expressed a confidence in being able to handle life's hardships together. Partners were able to work together as a team and allies within their relationship rather than against each other. Couples viewed their relationship as a support base, where they could both empower and support one another along their individual journeys. "I'm really for you being you." I don't want to stand in your way even if that means I have to learn some difficult things about myself. And I am asking for you to be for me the same way. Even if it is difficult for you or it hurts in some way. Couples acknowledged their willingness to learn from one another. partners were able to learn from each other's strengths and opposite qualities. CREATING A FOUNDATION OR CONTAINER Commitment: Commonly, people have fears about commitment and these fears often result in restriction and loss of freedom, whereas couples in these studies claimed that their commitments offered them a sense of freedom. Partners reported feeling more confident and free to explore themselves and their relationship more deeply. They shared feeling empowered to fully express themselves and to be who they truly were without feeling pressured to change. Additionally, couples expressed feeling safe to move beyond their fears, and the freedom to take new risks, as well as question and change old patterns and beliefs. One coresearcher commented, "I don't think a lot of people will have that understanding that commitment isn't something that's a chain around your neck. That it's still a very living, breathing thing that has a very strong foundation, that is kind of like the place . . . you soar from. Commitments were not considered to be static and unchanging, but that they were dynamic, changing, and evolving. Commitments were seen as conscious and continual choices. Values and Vision: Couples had a high degree of shared values together as a couple: having a similar spiritual perspective, truth, openness, and cultivating higher principles together. kindness, compassion, and service to others were priorities. loving, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Couples expressed feeling a sense of harmony and joy as a result of being aligned in the most meaningful aspects of life. A participant explained that a shared vision offers direction especially during challenging and stressful times helping partners keep a larger perspective. Willingness and Work: Growth and development takes work and the process can be extremely difficult and painful, especially during times of relationship conflict. While a strong commitment and relationship container helped hold space for the couple, it was essentially up to each individual to choose to do the work The process of growth often involved partners' confronting their unconscious fear and emotional triggers, which ultimately gave them the opportunity to transform themselves, but this process can be terrifying. Oftentimes partners wanted to stay contracted in fear, rejecting the opportunity for joy and expansion because it was too scary. This process required a willingness to commit, as well as strength and courage to do the hard work necessary for growth and development of self and relationship. Couples talked about the importance of being willing to do whatever it takes, rather than avoiding or running from challenges participant claimed that it sometimes takes work to have a loving response, and that love is "more than just a feeling. It's a decision." Relationship Container: The relationship container was seen as providing the "emotional 'ground,' protection, or feeling of safety which might not otherwise have existed." A relationship can then be viewed as a safe place to practice learning new skills, confront challenges, and to allow healing to take place. Feelings of safety and trust helped partners feel safe enough to be vulnerable and open their hearts (i.e. "sharing what is of real value to me with my partner, and having a safe place to be open and honest is a true gift"). With safety, partners began to build trust. To trust is to trust in the "essential goodness" of one's partner and belief that they would not cause intentional harm and that they care about the growth of their partner. A participant talked about safety, in saying"In other relationships, I think I stayed more on the periphery, so I could never really feel the safety or the acceptance to just go in and really connect more deeply in myself. And since to me that's a prerequisite to being able to open up and connect with anything bigger, it was a necessary step for me in a spiritual sense to be open to any greater force." "the relationship deepened as we were really able to trust one another in terms of holding the person's experience. Now there is no concern. A person steps forward, the other person holds them, and the next person steps forward and the other person holds them. Really just promotes a deepening, being able to be in the relationship unconditionally in your entirety and trusting knowing whatever comes up, even if it may promote some kind of conflict, that the relationship can hold whatever kind of individuation is necessary for each person. (p. 108) " MENTIONED: How To Build A Happy, Lasting Love – Webinar (webinar link) This 75-Year Harvard Study Found the 1 Secret to Leading a Fulfilling Life By Melanie Curtin (article) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 100: 3 Building Blocks For A Conscious Intimate Relationship [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

GUEST MICHAELA BOEHM Michaela Boehm teaches and counsels internationally as an expert in intimacy and sexuality. She combines her background in psychology and extensive clinical experience with her in-depth training in the yogic arts as a classical Kashmiri Tantric lineage holder into a unique offering of experiential learning. She is passionate about teaching skills that enhance deep intimacy, lasting attraction and give each participant the tools for full embodiment and capacity. Michaela also co-taught with David Deida for 13 years. Michaela teaches workshops & intimacy intensives for men and women as well as offers mentorships and relationship counseling. In this episode, Michaela Boehm brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, as she talks with us about the importance of working with our inner masculine and feminine energies, so that we can increase our capacity for intimacy, sexual and erotic play and love. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to gain access to the full conversation, points, and examples.) IMPORTANT POINTS FROM MICHAELA BOEHM: The importance of engaging with yourself, having intimacy with yourself, and having intimacy with another person, as well as engaging in sensual, erotic, ecstatic play. Each human being has two aspects or two principles present. One is the "go" or the "doing" principle (masculine). The other is the "flow" or "being" principle (feminine). Both aspects exist in each person in equal amount because "go without flow" is disastrous and "flow with go" is pretty disastrous too. People usually have a preference for where they like to reside most either in the masculine ("the go") or feminine ("the flow") principle. Many misunderstandings happen when people mix women with feminine and men with masculine. The polarity between the masculine and feminine aspects spark sexual tension and attraction. The person with whom you have the most sexual attraction to is the person with whom is most different from you. The more different somebody is from you, the stronger the spark of attraction will be. The more similar you are with somebody the better your relationship will be. If you have a strong attraction in your relationship, but you are in conflict with each other, you want to work on relationship skills. If you have a strong relationship, but the sexual attraction is not as strong, then you want to use the principles of erotic friction to create the spark. Whatever you do the most creates the strongest bodily pattern. If you spend 20 years on the go, you are not going to simply soften into a surrendered blob of pleasure. Your body is not conditioned for that. However, this is not the same as not having it. You have it. You have the capacity for both the masculine and the feminine principles within you. You were born with it. It is your birthright. You can develop the principle that you have not been in the habit of using as much. It is also important to destress before practicing some of these protocols. MENTIONED: Michaela Boehm (website) Michaela Boehm's workshops (workshop webpage) Michael Boehm's Sound Cloud (free resources) How To Build A Happy, Lasting Love – Webinar (webinar link) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 099: How To Work With The Masculine And Feminine Polarity with Michaela Boehm [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

THE CHALLENGE WITH WEDDING VOWS: Wedding vows are beautiful expressions of love. When we go to a wedding, we want to hear about the couple's love for one another. We are moved by the deeply sentimental proclamations. We are inspired by the power of love, demonstrated through a reading, scripture, poem, original vows or some combination. However, vows are often aspirational and very hard to follow. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) Last fall, my husband and I went to a friend's wedding. They got married on a yacht and had a small ceremony. The groom is someone who I used to take volleyball lessons from and is an amazing teacher and coach. Coach John Wooden has had a huge influence on his teachings, so it was fitting that he incorporated a quote from Wooden: "Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you. – John Wooden" Truthfully, I love these expressions probably more than most people. And I work with couples all the time and see how they do not have practical direction with their commitments. Their vows do not support their practice of loving each other in the every day moments of life. Not only do vows tend to be more aspirational rather than practical, they tend to be very general and vast. Most people who have explored how to set and accomplish goals have come across S.M.A.R.T. goals…which stand for Specific. Measurable. Actionable. Realistic. Time-Bound. Now, I am not suggesting that couples turn their vows into goals. However, I do think it can be extremely helpful for couples to have working agreements and operational commitments. COMMITMENTS TO GUIDE US: Back in 2006, Reid, my now husband and boyfriend at the time, were taking a short road trip. We were in the car and I remember him asking me what I thought about commitments. I told him that I thought commitments are most powerful and work best when they are seen as self-commitments and guiding principles. Commitments that I hold myself to and work towards. It is my integrity and desire that give me the motivation, rather than the obligation we often think about when we imagine a commitment to someone else. EMPIRICALLY SUPPORTIVE MARRIAGE VOWS – AN EXAMPLE A couple of years ago, I came across this article "How To Craft An Empirically Supported Marriage, by Melanie Tannenbaum" I saved the article because I loved the example of how practical and scientifically proven ways of loving could be woven into marriage vows. Granted both partners are psychologists, and they understand "that one of the most challenging tasks in a person's life is successfully navigating romantic relationships." They wanted to be mindful and intentional about their commitments and not leave the success of their marriage up to chance. Here are some of their vows: "On a daily basis, think about what your spouse does that you value, and verbally express your gratitude. No one is perfect, and focusing on your partner's shortcomings while overlooking their desirable qualities doesn't enhance anyone's enjoyment of the relationship –- not your partner's, and not your own. So Melanie, when Justin is ready to go to bed a solid three hours before you, let him know that you appreciate how conscientious he's being. And Justin, when Melanie frenetically dances around the house to Tropi-Pop tunes at 11 PM on a Tuesday, let her know you appreciate her spirit and vim. However, everyone fights occasionally, and what determines whether couples stay together isn't whether they fight, but how they fight. When disagreements arise, listen to your partner, acknowledge the role you had in the conflict, focus on specific behaviors rather than criticizing your partner's personality, and share concerns in a polite, empathetic manner. Respect each other in good times and bad. It's also important to create shared positive experiences. Hobbies are a great way to do this, and some are better than others for promoting good relationships. Activities that let you face challenges together as a team are an ideal way to build a stronger bond. As a bonus, exciting activities that increase your heart rate will let you benefit from misattribution of arousal. So, for the sake of your relationship, continue traveling, exploring, mud-running, moving cross-country, and taking risks — as a team. Although it's good to do things together, it's also important to support each other's personal freedom and autonomy. People enter into relationships because they admire the other individual. Help your partner continue to be that individual by respecting their personal goals and interests. Sometimes that's as simple as asking questions to show your support. So don't worry, Justin, there's no need to sign up for Zumba yourself — but do continue to ask Melanie how it went whenever she comes home from teaching a class." If you want to read the article and see their references, you can check it out here. In my work with couples, I have found it to be so important for the couple to have a shared philosophy, especially about how to handle challenges. Most couples have no idea how to deal with upset and disagreement when it happens. DRIFTING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER: Unfortunately, we are all familiar with couples "falling out of love" and "drifting part." The sad reality is that we often expect our love to flourish without investing the time, energy, and effort into the connection. Recently, I was watching This Is Us, a show on NBC. There was an exchange between two friends. One friend confronted the other about his marriage falling apart. Here is an excerpt (from episode 14 "I Call Marriage"): "You want to know why my marriage ended Jack? For as long as I can remember, I have woken up at 6:30 every day to make Shelly coffee, splash of milk two sugars. I would make it and bring it to her in bed. She says that he day doesn't even start until she's got caffeine in her veins. And then one day, woke up , 6:30, like always, and I made myself one. I just didn't feel like making Shelly one. And the worst part is she didn't even notice. We stopped noticing each other, Jack. We stopped trying to make each other happy. When we realized that, we knew it was over. Now, I think that every single couple has a handful of these moments when you reach a crossroads. Just sometime it happens early on, first fight…sometimes it happens ten years in, when you've had the same fight about taking out the trash every night for a week. They're make or break these moments. And you either roll up your sleeves and you fight for what you've got or you decide that you're tired and you give up. And I had one of these moments when I didn't make Shelly her coffee." In an email that I recently got from Dr. Keith Witt, he wrote: "How to intentionally maintain your marital love affair?" Cultivate "I'll do what it takes," commitments to nurture the marital love affair throughout lifecycles. We begin relationships with a "I'll stay as long as…" commitments, as in, "I'll stay as long as we love each other," or "As long as my needs are fulfilled." If we are successful at taking care of our love for each other, these shift to "I'll do what it takes." commitments, where we both resolve to face problems and work through them when issues arise. "I'll do what it takes," couples tend to stay together and be more fulfilled. "I'll do what it takes," couples are more willing to keep focusing on the marital love affair to keep it satisfying and alive through all the life stages." OPERATIONAL COMMITMENTS: What you will do when you are feeling challenged? When you feel distant… resentful…hurt? How will you show up? How will you deal? Do you know what your operational commitments are in your marriage/relationship? If not, I encourage you to schedule some time to develop them. Maybe for your next anniversary take some time to add some practical and conscious commitments to your marriage vows. If you feel like you and your partner could use an overhaul in your ways of operating together. Sign-up for the free webinar on March 15th to get some insight into how to cultivate a happier more connected relationship as well as learning about the Connected Couple program. Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks offer some great input about conscious commitments, in their article titled "Conscious Loving: The Journey To Co-Commitment" (summarizing their book by the same title): Commitment 1: I commit myself to full closeness, and to clearing up anything within me that stands in the way. Commitment 2: I commit myself to my own complete development as an individual. Commitment 3: I commit to revealing myself fully in the relationship, not to concealing myself. Commitment 4: I commit myself to the full empowerment of people around me. Commitment 5: I commit myself to acting from the awareness that I am 100 percent the source of my reality. Commitment 6: I commit myself to having a good time in my close relationships. Creating and maintaining conscious commitments is an ever evolving process, as you continue to explore and deepen in yourself and your intimacy with your partner. MENTIONED: How To Build A Happy, Lasting Love – Webinar (webinar link) How To Craft An Empirically Supported Marriage, by Melanie Tannenbaum (article) This Is Us (NBC episode) ERP 093: How The "Shadow" Influences Our Growth In Life And In Relationship With Dr. Keith Witt (podcast episode) Conscious Loving: The Journey To Co-Commitment (article) ERP 066: How to move out of criticism into love & appreciation (podcast episode) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 098: How are your Marriage Vows helping you? [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

WHAT IS THE STORY YOU TELL YOURSELF? The story you tell yourself is so important, and most likely you are reinforcing the story over and over again. It is said that 90% of our thoughts are repetitive and 70% of these thoughts are negative. What does that mean for your story? Our story shapes our identity, who we are and what we experience. If you listened to last week's podcast episode, we looked at how our beliefs can have a dramatic affect on our experience. Also, I gave you several examples of things couples typically say. People commonly have a story with some version of: If my partner would only… Maybe something is wrong with me… Maybe we are not right for each other… None of these beliefs or stories are particularly helpful. In last week's episode, we also contrasted a negative belief and how this plays out with a more neutral belief and what this looks like in action. What a huge difference! Check it out if you missed it. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) In the article Rewrite Your Life, authors and psychologists talked about the importance of looking at and reframing the stories we hold. They described the powerful impact of creating a different narrative and how this can ultimately change who we are and what we experience. "One experiment involved students who had shared a group narrative identity along the lines of, "We're too different from these rich kids—we'll never catch up, and we're probably not smart enough anyway." Researchers showed them seemingly professionally produced videos citing evidence that many kids enter school believing they don't belong or aren't smart enough to handle the work—but that after a few months the majority adjust socially, get help from faculty, work diligently, and go on to succeed. Students who watched the videos experienced marked improvements in grades, graduation rates, and self-confidence. There is nothing magical about the approach, Wilson says."The idea is to change kids' idea that intelligence is this fixed thing we have," he says, and instead help them realize that "achievement is about seeking the right help and overcoming obstacles." By Susan Gregory Thomas The same is true for relationship health and functioning. It is not a fixed thing. We can improve our interactions and gain more closeness, happiness, and satisfaction… "with the right help and overcoming obstacles." Couples together create a relationship story, which in turn creates their "relationship identity." How they perceive and experience their relationship. How they deem it…as good, bad, healthy, unhealthy, happy, unhappy, etc. One of my biggest goals is to help you see relationship challenges as part of the process of developing and see that there are lessons and opportunities available. What would happen if you were to take your energy and put it towards creating a different result, rather going into old story? Continuing to hold stories like "He will never change. She will never be any different. We will always have these issues. Nothing will improve." will likely result in little improvement or change. "If our stories tell us we are resilient, we will be. If they tell us we're not up to the fight, we likely won't be." By Susan Gregory Thomas Reminds me of the famous Henry Ford quote "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't–you're right." IT IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO CHANGE OUR BELIEFS AND STORY WITHOUT SOME CONSCIOUS EFFORT. Even with support and guidance, couples will tend to resort to their default mode, especially within the early phases of learning. This is largely because we are wired up to protect ourselves. We do not want to get hurt, and our protective mechanisms kick in, as talked about in ERP 095. This becomes particularly complicated when there has been trauma in the past. When trauma plays a role, stories tend to be ingrained and complex. Thus, it can be very hard to counteract. Narrative therapy is a common approach to helping people address difficulties in their life, especially with children. For example, if a child has symptoms of anxiety. Narrative therapy might help the child give anxiety a name, description, and story. This helps the child disidentify from the symptoms of anxiety, and pain. They begin to see "You are more than your pain. You are bigger than your pain. This is happening to you. This is not you." They may begin to feel their power and choice. They may begin to set limits and boundaries with anxiety, as well as build new skills and strategies to overcome the anxious feelings. This technique can be useful in couples work. Dr. Susan Johnson does this when she encourages couples to recognize when they are in a disconnect pattern or a "demon dialogue" as she would call it. It is essentially helping the couple recognize the painful dynamic is not their relationship. It is not who they are; it is something they have experienced, AND it does not have to be their story moving forward. It is incredibly inspiring to think you can have a new pattern together. Yes, you have to learn the new pattern, but it is possible and available. WHAT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR STORY DIFFERENTLY? "My oldest daughter was usually quiet and exhausted on the hour-long ride home from seventh grade. Not this day. She slammed the car door shut and spat that a classmate had been "incredibly rude" to her. She veered into a rant on hypocritical teachers and finally inventoried the despicable qualities of nearly every girl in her class. I asked her what was really going on, and she answered truthfully: For the past six months, my daughter, who is mixed-race, had been viciously bullied in racist attacks by girls at her Philadelphia school, often in classrooms, while teachers seemingly took no notice. I pulled over and began calling every teacher and administrator involved. They would hear every detail of my daughter's story, and then this story was going to end because she needed to know that it was over. The next morning, as we met with school officials who pressed her for specific names and incidents, I asked them to withdraw so I could talk to my daughter alone for a moment. There she sat, crumpled, shaking, terrified of retribution. But if she did or said nothing, those past few months would stay forever lodged, ruinously, in her psyche. She needed a victory, to feel her own power. So I put it to her: Today, she, an ordinary girl, could decide to be a hero and change the story for every nonwhite student at that school forever. And she did. Now 15, my oldest is back to her charismatic, hilarious, sparkly self (and we are living in Brooklyn). The experience is melded to her core, and she's tougher, but also more compassionate. She changed her story." By Susan Gregory Thomas WHAT IS THE STORY YOU TELL ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES? 1. Write down your story. 2. Identify your negative beliefs (harmful to you, your partner, or your relationship).* 3. Rewrite your story without blaming your partner or yourself.* 4. Reframe your perspective & look for opportunities.* 5. Give space and include what you want to experience in relationship.* 6. Create a new story.* * May be helpful to get support. "The benefits of rewriting—from improved mood and well-being to boosts in the immune system—have since been demonstrated in dozens of studies, including my own. Rewriting helps you organize your thoughts and feelings and put them into words. This, in turn, helps you gain perspective, sort out your emotions, and increase narrative coherence—your understanding of who you are, how you became that person, and where you are going." By Sherry Hamby HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEW STORY? It can be hard to trust the new story. This is especially true when we feel reactive, triggered, and threatened. Again, it can be helpful to get support with this process. It takes an active participation…rehearsing the new narrative and looking for evidence that supports the new story. "How does my partner demonstrate ______?" When you run up against conflicting evidence, work to check it out. "Can you help me understand how __(behavior)___ fits into __(new story)___? By doing this, you are working towards supporting the new narrative rather than falling back into the old story. "We can't change the past, but we can change how it affects us and who it makes us. When we tweak what we tell ourselves about the past , we can redirect our future. In our relationships, through our life choices, or at our jobs, we can recognize our mistakes, move on, and start to embody a different story." By Susan Gregory Thomas "We are the stories we tell." By Susan Gregory Thomas MENTIONED: How Your Beliefs Can Destroy Your Relationship – Part Two (podcast episode) Rewrite Your Life (article) ERP 095: How Your Beliefs Can Destroy Your Relationship (podcast episode) Hold Me Tight (book) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 097: How to rewrite your relationship story [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

Make sure you check out Part One ERP 095: How Your Beliefs Can Destroy Your Relationship, if you missed it. In this episode, you will learn why we can go from anticipating the best about our partners and relationship to anticipating the worst (as a form of protection). When we are triggered, we are more likely to react and jump to conclusions. Therefore, it is important to slow down. so that we can calm our nervous system and enable our higher level thinking. In turn, this will help us engage in a more progressive and productive process. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) HOW OUR BELIEFS AFFECT US The field of psychology teaches us that our thoughts, feelings, and physiology are all connected and interrelated. The beliefs we hold affect our thinking, feeling, body, as well as the way we behave and relate. Here is an example: Belief: "I am ugly" Thought: "No one will ever be interested in me." Emotion: Feeling sad, alone, and depressed. Body: Bad posture, turned away, looking down. Action: Will not take care of appearance and will not actively engage with others. Result: Little positive social feedback, as people will not have much a chance to relate. POINTS OF CHANGE It is easier to change our thinking and physiology than it is to change our emotions. Deepen our breath to calm our nervous system or change our body posture to increase confidence. Reframe our thinking to get to a more balanced thought. OUR NEGATIVE VIEWS When we go through a difficult time, it is natural to try to make sense of the situation. However, if we let our fear, reactivity, and protection mechanisms run the show, then we are at great risk of pathologizing our partners, ourselves, or our relationships. Here are things we typically say: "If he would only communicate with me, we wouldn't have any problems. He has issues." "If she would just control her anger, we would be fine. She is the problem." "Maybe I am not relationship material." "Maybe I am not meant to be with anyone." "Maybe we were never meant to be." "Who were we kidding? We are such a joke." A NEGATIVE BELIEF IN ACTION VS A BALANCED BELIEF IN ACTION Let's look at one possibility of how a negative beliefs can impact our thinking, feeling, and behaving: Belief: "He can't communicate. If he would only communicate with me, we wouldn't have any problems." Thinking: "He can't give me what I need. He has issues. He doesn't really want to be close. I should have picked someone different." Emotion: Feel hurt. Feel wronged. Feel unhappy. Feel scared. Feel sad and upset. Feel angry. Feel hopeless. Body: Either slumped posture and looking down. Or arms crossed, hand on the hip, and piercing eyes. Actions: Ask questions with a negative tone of voice. Ask questions expecting there to be no quality reply. Ask leading questions or close-ended questions. Ask questions at inopportune times. Result: Further disconnect. Disagreements. Misunderstandings. Upset. Conflict. Negative patterns ensues. Let's take the same concern and look at another possibility of what a more balanced belief might look like in action: Belief: "Communicating verbally isn't as easy or natural for him." Thinking: "I wonder what ways he likes to share his experience. When does he open more to me?" Emotion: Feeling curious. Feeling interested. Feeling hopeful. Feeling patient and trusting. Body: Alert. Leaning towards. Good eye contact. Open posture. Actions: Seeking to understand. Trying to help. Treading carefully. Genuinely curious and accepting Result: Better communication. More goodwill. Willing to work together. Feeling more connected. Understanding each other more. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A NEGATIVE BELIEF IN ACTION VS A BALANCED BELIEF IN ACTION Let's look at a Listener's question: What if my partner isn't interested in or doesn't have faith in the process? An example of a negative belief playing out: Belief: "This is stupid." (working on the relationship…talking, therapy, or coaching) Thinking: "I am not going to get anything out of this. This will never work." Emotion: Annoyed. Angry. Frustrated. Resentful. Body: Arms folded. Muscles tight. Defensive posture. Closed off. Shut down. Constricted breathing. Action: Ready to leave. Looking for an opportunity to get out of the conversation and disengage. Avoid. Blame. Not really listening, and not trying to understand. Result: No positive result. No progress. Separation. Divorce. An example of a balanced belief playing out: Belief: "I am not sure if this will work, but I am willing to try." Thinking: "This is uncomfortable. I am not sure what I am suppose to do." Emotion: Uncomfortable. Anxious. Excited. Hopeful. Scared. Vulnerable. Body: A little on edge. Working on trying to stay calm. Trying to take a few deep breaths. Posture alert and upright. Action: Keeping an open mind. Willing to try. Result: Likely, with some good guidance, they will begin to build safety and make progress together. HOW TO WORK WITH A NEGATIVE BELIEF Unpacking our beliefs, so that we can explore them, look at them, constructively work with them usually takes a process. If you are interested in getting support, please contact me. I would be happy to explore the option of coaching or a program with you. In the meantime, here are some reflection questions for you to consider (assuming you have calmed down enough, so that you can think and assess a little more clearly): Pay very close attention to your internal dialogue. Check out your thinking. What do you say to yourself? Is what I am thinking really true? What might this say about a belief you are holding? What are your feelings in this scenario? What does your body feel like within the situation? What are your behaviors? What action do you take? What is the outcome or result? How might I be seeing this from the lense of my old experience? MENTIONED: ERP 021: How To Feel More Confident In Relationship (podcast episode) Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are (Ted Talk) ERP 095: How Your Beliefs Can Destroy Your Relationship (podcast episode) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 096: How Your Beliefs Can Destroy Your Relationship – Part Two [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.

In podcast episode 94, "4 Reasons Why Creating Lasting Love Is So Difficult" I offered four reasons why partners will give-up on or break-up a relationship. Today, we are exploring the mechanisms behind our belief systems in relationship. This will be a two-part series. (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear more explanations, stories and examples.) HOW COME MY PARTNER SEEMS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING? A challenge we are faced with along the path of developing long-term intimacy is learning how to deal with our protective mechanisms. This is an unexpected challenge, as we do not anticipate needing to protect ourselves against our significant other. During the initial stages of love, we emphasize all the positive qualities of the relationship and connection. In some ways, we imagine how great we are for one another (since we don't really know). When the romance settles a bit, we may enter into a deeper level of commitment, and we begin to see our differences emerge. Seeing these differences might be surprising (different from what we imagined) and challenging….especially when we do not know how to deal with conflict well. This dynamic gets even more confusing and complicated because we have essentially moved from a position of hope and optimism to one of caution and protection. WHY DO I FEEL SO PROTECTIVE WITH MY PARTNER? If you have listened to my podcast before, you may have heard me talk about the fact that evolutionarily, we are wired up to protect ourselves and to survive. The very primal part of our brain…namely the amygdala let's us know when there is a threat. This part of the brain has been storing and cataloging all the painful experiences up to date, so that it can be prepared and ready to protect and take care in the event a similar situation should occur again. This protective systems main goal is to keep you safe. It is quick to respond and does not decipher, discern, or differentiate well. When a threat is detected, our fight, flight, or freeze response kicks into gear. Our brain does not take the time to distinguish between "a bear is chasing us" and "our partner is slighting us." All threats feel similar within our nervous system, whether it is a physical or an emotional threat. When we feel threaten in relationship, our early experiences with connection are getting brought up to the surface. OUR CONNECTION IMPRINT When we enter into a deeper level of commitment through marriage or life partnership, the romantic bond activates a deep part of our being called the attachment system. This attachment system is more or less an early imprint of connection. This imprint of connection reflects how we were cared for or not cared for by our parents/caregivers, as well as how we learned to respond through our thinking, feeling, and physiology. In a secure connection, we learned to believe that our needs would be met and that the world is a safe place. We felt loved and felt confident about our ability to receive comfort and affection. Our body and nervous system was relaxed, calm, and functioning well. As babies, we needed our parents/primary caretakers to survive. While we do not need our partners for survival the emotional bond activates the very same system. Our romantic connections hold the same level of intensity, stakes, and vulnerability. If you are interested in learn more about what insecure attachment looks like, check out this episode or this research paper (wrote many years ago). PROTECTIVE TRIPWIRE With any level of insecurity, pain, hurt, or injury in the past, your brain has kept very good track of this experience, so that it can protect you in the future. Yet, this protective mechanism works too well in many cases, as the system responds to any PERCEIVED threat…anything that looks, smells, tastes, sounds, and feels similar to the previous painful experience. Often, this happens so quickly we aren't even aware of it until we are already in the flight, flight, or freeze mode. The benefit of this protective system is that it works hard to keep you safe, and it does a good job. With any sign of threat, you will be on guard. The draw back is there may be many opportunities for false alarms. In relationship, our interactions are happening so quickly, and we rarely take the time to flush everything out. Deciphering interactions and perceived threats are especially confusing, when we have don't trust and are cautious with our partner. HIGHER SKILLS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE When we feel protective, defensive, and threatened, the more evolved parts of our brain are off-line. All of our energy and resources are going towards getting ready to fight or flee. Therefore, we do not have access to our higher levels of thinking and processing, like regulating emotions, perceiving emotions in others, executive thinking, and decision-making. EXCERPT FROM "WIRED FOR LOVE" BY STAN TATKIN, PSYD: (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript for the excerpt) By understanding these protective mechanisms more, we can see how it is possible to move from hope and optimism to caution and defensiveness in relationship. Basically, we go from anticipating the best to anticipating the worst in relationship. Anticipating the worst in your partner or relationship can have grave effects on love and lasting relationship. Stay tuned for the next episode, as we will explore how this plays out with more specifics and examples. If you are interested in learning how to manage your reactions and regulate your nervous system, so that you can engage a more progressive and productive process please sign-up for my Connect Couples Program, which will give you step-by-step support and guidance…stay tuned for details. In the meantime, check out this free ebook "7 Ways Relationships Fail (And what you can do to save yours)" Instant Access MENTIONED: Survey – Empowered Relationship Feedback (survey link) ERP 052: Save Your Relationship By Understanding Your Attachment Needs (podcast) Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner's Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship (book – amazon link) Adult Attachment in Romantic Relationship Research paper (opt-in) TRANSCRIPT: Click on this link to access the transcript for this episode: ERP 095: How Your Beliefs Can Destroy Your Relationship [Transcript] If you have a topic you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the "Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins" button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Empowered Relationship Course or doing relationship coaching work with me.