***Has Your Spouse Become Your Enemy?
3 Steps to Resolving Your Fights and Loving Each Other Again
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,446 views
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Articles by Sharon Rivkin
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36 articles by Sharon Rivkin · showing 36
Browse every published article connected to Sharon Rivkin, or search within this exact expert archive.
***Your First Holiday Season After A Divorce or Separation
After a separation or divorce, the first holiday season can bring tremendous stress and sadness, in addition to feeling overwhelmed and frightened. Coping with loss and grief, coupled with changes in familiar patterns and traditions, can magnify your feelings about the separation or divorce during the holiday season. Up to this point, you may have felt you were making progress in moving on with your life, but the holidays seem to emerge with feelings of grief all over again!
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,883 views
Read article***Have We Gone Too Far with List Making? 5 Reasons to Hang On or Let Go of Your Latest Love
We’re a cult of list makers. We make to-do lists, grocery lists, packing lists, and now a list of must-have qualities for our potential partner. She needs to be independent, yet be devoted; he needs to earn a good living, yet have enough time for her. He needs to have follow-through on his promises; she needs to not be demanding. And on it goes. If some of these qualities don’t appear right away, do you end the relationship? Or how long should you stay if all the items on your list aren’t there?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,593 views
Read article***Before, During, and After: How to Declare a Truce at the Holiday Dinner Table
With the holidays fast approaching, our emotions seem to jump all over the place. We’re excited, anxious, stressed, because there’s so much to plan, and we want the holidays to be perfect. Yet, the thought of the holiday dinner quickly reminds us of past events that have been anything but loving and peaceful. Most families have some kind of history of arguments that seem to erupt at the yearly holiday dinner table.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,740 views
Read article***A Year Without Arguments? 3 Proven Steps to Stop Fighting and Start Healing
Have you ever considered a year without arguments? In these times of economic chaos, it is more important than ever to minimize your fighting and disagreements, and create a more harmonious relationship with your spouse and family. Couples simply cannot afford to divorce as easily during a recession, but with some new intentions and techniques, a failing marriage can be salvaged and healed.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,156 views
Read article***6 Tips for Resolving Your Thanksgiving Hassles NOW
He says no…she says yes. She wants to go to her best friend’s for Thanksgiving dinner, he’s firm about going to his parents’. She wants a change…he wants the same. Suddenly you’re not feeling thankful for anything at all. Sound familiar? So, how do you put the thankful back into Thanksgiving? How do you come to a middle ground with your partner, your family, and yourself?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,577 views
Read article***Seven Ways to Ruin Your Marriage
Unless someone is completely vicious, no one enters a marriage with the intention of destroying it, yet the divorce rate gets higher every year and couples, even if they don’t divorce, are often unhappy and in loveless marriages. By being aware of what you may be doing in your marriage that could eventually destroy it, you can create a successful and flourishing relationship:
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,984 views
Read article***Getting Back In So You Can Finally Stay Out
One of the hardest things to do is to leave a relationship. A more difficult undertaking is staying out. Maybe it wasn’t so bad. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough. Maybe she could change after all. Maybe I could put up with more tha I thought; after all, I do love him.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,697 views
Read article***What to Do When Your Partner Has Become Your Enemy
Where has all the love gone that you once felt for your partner? Do you seem to fight about everything? Has your partner become your enemy? How did it happen?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
12,323 views3.7/5 (3)
Read article***The Most Important Argument You’ll Ever Have in Your Relationship
The first argument is the most crucial argument you will ever have in your relationship, setting the stage for all arguments to follow. Future conflicts will often look and sound like they’re different, but most times are simply variations of the first, unresolved argument. Understanding that the first argument is a tool for healing, rather than just a random conflict, can spare yourself years of grief, hopelessness, and helplessness in your relationships.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
3,509 views5/5 (1)
Read article***Giving Up the Fantasy of the Perfect Mate, What REAL Marriages Are All About
We all seem to think that we need to find our perfect mate or soul mate. But does a perfect mate even exist and, if so, does this mean that the only way to be happy is to find this perfect soul mate? What if you don’t? What if you spend your entire life looking, only to end up alone in your fantasy delusion because you didn’t find him/her? Are we really searching for fantasy in our relationships?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,574 views
Read articleRelationship Red Flags: 5 Tips for Identifying Your Negotiables and Non-Negotiables
You’re in a new relationship, and you’re starting to see some red flags, warning you that the relationship may not be a good bet, but does that mean you should leave? How many red flags does it take to make that decision? How do you know if the red flags mean future disaster, or are just a warning?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
3,352 views3.3/5 (3)
Read article4 Ways to Survive the Hard Times and Come Out Closer
Is it possible for something good to come out of the economic downtu ? Can a relationship, even one that may be experiencing its own hard times, come out better for surviving the hard times? Here are some ways to use the recession to your benefit: 1. Back to Basics. View this as an ...Is it possible for something good to come out of the economic downtu ? Can a relationship, even one that may be experiencing its own hard times, come out better for surviving the hard times? Here are some ways to use the recession to your benefit:
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,592 views3.5/5 (2)
Read article***A Healthy Marriage Doesn’t Happen Out of the Blue: Five Must-Do Secrets that Really Work
We seem to prepare for everything in our life – jobs, exams, etc. Why then don’t we prepare for a successful marriage? According to divorce statistics, it is estimated that between 40 and 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce in the United States. Without realizing it, most couples have unrealistic ideas about marriage perpetuated by fairy tales, movies, and fantasy novels. These misconceptions about love can render a couple helpless to resolve conflict, creating trouble and havoc when it suddenly appears in the marriage.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,642 views
Read article6 Ways to Stay Focused on What You Really Want in Your Relationships
No matter how young or old you are, or how hard things have been, it’s never too late to review what works and what doesn’t work in your life. It’s easy to lose focus on what you really want due to the daily demands of life. However, there’s always a way to look at your life differently, to ...No matter how young or old you are, or how hard things have been, it’s never too late to review what works and what doesn’t work in your life. It’s easy to lose focus on what you really want due to the daily demands of life.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
4,933 views
Read article***5 Effective Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress During the Recession
For most of us, we want the holidays to be fun and exciting. But more often than not, the holiday season evokes tension and stress. By spending more money than our budgets allow, or going overboard by eating the wrong foods, or taking on too many activities…these exte al stressors are only a piece of the bigger picture. These problems only compound when we are faced with unresolved family issues and budget limitations.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,572 views4.5/5 (2)
Read articleHow to Affair-Proof Your Marriage
According to statistics, 45 or 55 percent of married women and 50 to 60 percent of married men engage in extramarital sex at some time or another during their relationship. An affair is one of the most difficult challenges a couple can face, and nothing destroys a marriage faster than marital infidelity. As shocking as statistics are, you may wonder then if it’s really possible to affair-proof your marriage. The answer is: Yes, it’s possible. But in order to make that happen, it’s important to know what can cause an affair.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,359 views3/5 (3)
Read article***Can a Democrat Stay Happily Married to a Republican?
In these tough times of economic and political turmoil, with a critical Presidential election right around the corner, everyone is talking politics. Hot political debate is being fueled around the dinner table, over coffee, over drinks, and at parties. The upcoming election is in the air! But what about couples who are in different political parties with opposing points of view? Can they live happily ever after? It depends on several issues:
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
4,541 views4.5/5 (2)
Read articleMy Partner Cheated, Why Was I the Last to Know?
Usually we’re surprised by an affair because we’ve ignored the early warning signs, such as arguments that never got resolved, or built up feelings of resentment due to diminishing communication and emotional and sexual interest. We don’t realize that these are the seeds of affairs. We don’t take these signs seriously because we think the issues will go away or resolve themselves. But they don’t. They unconsciously build momentum, and before we know it, we have found out that our partner has cheated…without us even knowing.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,116 views1/5 (1)
Read articleSeven Powerful Ways to Make Your Marriage Last
Marriage is supposed to last “forever,” isn’t it? When we decide to get married, we truly believe that forever will happen. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, because most of us don’t have realistic guidelines or tools to know how to make a marriage last. When we fall in love, we usually think that’s all we’ll need to be happy. However, when “reality” sets in and a couple has their first real argument, they both realize that their partner isn’t perfect.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
4,060 views4.6/5 (5)
Read article***How Your First Argument Could Last For 50 Years
Sounds crazy, but it’s true! Simply put, the first argument you have with your partner, if left unresolved, will manifest itself time and time again - in different forms – throughout your entire relationship.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
3,411 views4/5 (1)
Read articleChange Your Language, Change Your Relationship: How We Say Things Does Matter
That old phrase, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” is not really true. Words may not inflict visible bruises like sticks and stones, but they pack a punch nonetheless. They injure our insides, our feelings, and our self-esteem. Exte al bruises are tangible proof that we’ve been hurt. Internal bruises from verbal attacks are harder to prove, harder to acknowledge, and harder to talk about.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,828 views3.8/5 (4)
Read article***The Downfall of Fall
As summer ends, we see the light changing and the days becoming shorter and shorter. That fall chill in the air seems to come out of nowhere, and we often begin to sense sadness and maybe even depression, prompting us to think, what’s that all about? Though fall is beautiful with the leaves changing color and the grapes being harvested, it is FALL, the ebbing part of the year. For me, fall made me sad and depressed because it represented the end of summer fun and a new year of school to tackle.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,741 views
Read articleDoes Your Spouse Steal the Limelight?
Does your spouse take credit for your ideas? Or do people compliment your spouse for tasks or projects that you did? Do you get the credit where credit is due?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
3,521 views3/5 (2)
Read articleHealth and Harmony in Relationships: It All Starts with YOU!
“Stress is damaging to your health, so take care of yourself,” is very sound advice, but what exactly does that mean and how exactly do you take care of yourself and lessen stress? Experiencing optimal physical, mental, and spiritual health includes the good fortune of having healthy and ...“Stress is damaging to your health, so take care of yourself,” is very sound advice, but what exactly does that mean and how exactly do you take care of yourself and lessen stress?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
4,034 views3/5 (1)
Read article***Strategies to Stop Fighting and Start Loving During the Holidays
Are you tired of feeling stressed and angry during the holidays? Do you want this special time of the year to be filled with peace and joy? Do you wish for a fight-free holiday season with your loved ones? Make your Christmas wish come true by following these simple guidelines that will turn your holidays from tense and stressful to peaceful and loving: 1. Write down your recurrent, usual, and predictable fights about the holidays. For example, “Mom always wants me to come to her house first and gets mad if we go to my in-laws’ house before hers.”
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,579 views
Read articleAffairs: The Ultimate Challenge
An affair is one of the most difficult challenges a couple can face. It is a powerful catalyst that can either end the relationship or take it to a greater level of intimacy. An extreme symptom of a relationship that has been in trouble for some time, affairs do not happen out of the blue. They challenge both partners to look at themselves and their relationship in a radically new way.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,347 views3/5 (2)
Read articleHow Your First Argument Could Last for 50 Years
Sounds crazy, but it’s true! Simply put, the first argument you have with your partner, if left unresolved, will manifest itself time and time again - in different forms – throughout your entire relationship. When we fall in love and begin a partnership, we temporarily maintain our best ...
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,886 views3/5 (2)
Read article***Can Spouses Have Friends with the Opposite Sex? The Do’s and Don’ts for Making it Work
Male or female friendships are usually a threat to the primary relationship, but they really don’t HAVE to be. What fears us the most is the sexual aspect of this oftentimes complicated relationship. It’s difficult to keep the friendship platonic, given that 90% of the time, one of the friends has experienced romantic feelings for his/her friend. Sometimes this is talked about, and sometimes it isn’t, but the feelings are there. The primary relationship can then be affected with secrets, lies, and avoidance.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
3,138 views5/5 (1)
Read article***What’s Working and What Isn’t? 5 Ways to Get a Jump Start on a Fight-Free Holiday Season
With the holidays around the corner, and before the stress and panic really hit, make this a time to look at your relationship and take inventory to see what's working and what isn't. Begin to NURTURE your relationship NOW, in new and more effective ways, so that the holidays can be a time of closeness and connection, rather than fighting and resentment.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,598 views
Read articleSeven Warning Signs of a Troubled Relationship
When is it time to say, “My relationship is in trouble, and we need help”? How do you know when that time is? When couples wait too long to ask for help, the relationship may be beyond repair. The sooner help is sought, the better chance there is of recovering, saving, and actually strengthening the relationship. This includes issues dealing with affairs or other types of betrayal. The longer we wait, the more entrenched we get in destructive patterns and resentment, and all hope for change is lost. At a certain point, we don’t even want change…we just want to be done.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,505 views1/5 (1)
Read article***Formula for Creating a Strong and Healthy Marriage
The healthiest and longest lasting relationships don’t just happen because a couple fell in love. The majority of strong and healthy marriages are created by using a formula composed of six vital elements.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,753 views
Read articleWhat to Do When Anger Turns to Rage in a Relationship Conflict
There is a significant difference between anger and rage. Anger can be viewed as a scale that ranges from minor irritation to intense rage. It can be very scary indeed when the scale tips toward rage. Most of us don’t have any idea what to do when someone we love becomes that angry. Do we leave them alone until they calm down? Will that enrage them more? Do you get angry back? Will that enrage them more? Can you even reason with someone who is that mad? Do you have to protect yourself from their anger?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
4,928 views3/5 (2)
Read articleHow to Predict a Cheating Spouse
The same, unanswered questions keep getting asked each time a celebrity or politician gets caught cheating: Why? Are they bored? Is the fear of getting caught exciting? Is monogamy just not their thing? Are they searching for an outlet for fetishes they’re afraid to ask their partners about? Do they feel neglected by their mate? Is sex addiction a real thing, or just a scapegoat for wrongdoings? Are cheaters just plain selfish, unremorseful, and uncaring about the feelings of their partner?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,281 views1/5 (1)
Read articleDeclaring a Truce at the Holiday Dinner Table
With the holidays fast approaching, our emotions seem to jump all over the place. We’re excited, anxious, stressed, because there’s so much to plan, and we want the holidays to be perfect. Yet, the thought of the holiday dinner quickly reminds us of past events that have been anything but loving and peaceful. Most families have some kind of history of arguments that seem to erupt at the yearly holiday dinner table.
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
1,202 views
Read articleFive Steps for Letting Go of Hurt in Your Marriage
One of the greatest desires married couples have is to stay together forever and have a happy, healthy relationship. But what about past hurts that you can’t let go of? Are they creating more pain than happiness in your relationship?
Primary topic: Conflict Resolution
2,578 views1/5 (1)
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