Feeling Down? Have a Deep Conversation
According to a recent study, titled “Eavesdropping on Happiness,” increased well-being is associated with more “substantive” conversation. Authors found that happier individuals spend less time alone and engage in deeper conversations (vs. chit-chat) than less happy individuals. While the methodology of this study isn’t ironclad by any means, it does provide some evidence that superficial conversation […]
Parents? Who Needs ‘Em?
You can divorce an abusive spouse. You can call it quits if your lover mistreats you. But what can you do if the source of your misery is your own parent? This is a quote from a New York Times article on toxic parental relationships. In it the author talks about his own and other therapists’ […]
Couples Series #4: The Full Catastrophe
Hello again, everyone! After a long break to take care of a new puppy (a little golden retriever named Bentley, if you’re wondering), I’m back and ready to round out the Couples Series with its final installment: The Full Catastrophe. Sticking to form, we begin with a quote from Elizabeth Weil’s Married (Happily) With Issues: But Dan was […]
Couples Series #3: To Go or Not To Go (to Therapy)
Hello again! Some of you may know that I’m in the midst of a four-part Couples Series inspired by Elizabeth Weil’s NYT article, “Married (Happily) With Issues.” This is the third installment in that series. As per the usual, I’ll start with a quote from her article (which is actually a quote from a psychologist): Some […]
Couples Series #2: Mighty Morphin…Emotions
Here’s the second post in my ongoing Couples Series – a string of pieces inspired by Elizabeth Weil’s Married (Happily) With Issues. Who remembers the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers? If you lived in the United States during the early to mid-90’s (or have a working knowledge of Japanese cartoons, which I don’t), it was almost impossible […]
Couples Series #1: Debate Team – We’re Not in High School Anymore
This post marks the first in a short series on couples issues, inspired by Elizabeth Weil’s article in the NYT documenting her experience trying to improve her already good marriage. A quote to start: We enrolled in a 16-hour, two-Saturday course called “Mastering the Mysteries of Love.” The classes teach students how to have “skilled conversations” […]
