Sublime

John discovered that one set of variables determined whether a marriage would succeed or fail: Were the couples being positive or negative during the interview? There was very little gray area. Either they emphasized their good times together and minimized the bad times, or they emphasized their bad times together and minimized the good times. Eith

Inspiring just the right amount of jealousy is a time-tested strategy for marital satisfaction,

But these men frequently confirmed her view that men were weak and unable to stand up for themselves, and she would test them by criticizing them. She secretly wanted them to assert themselves and not be affected by her attacks. Instead, these men would often get hurt. She would feel terribly guilty. The guiltier she felt, the more she wanted them

Another tool to consider is Gallup’s CliftonStrengths,

the beginning of their marriage, communication skills were poor. One or both partners were unable to state clearly what they expected or wanted from a partner. Long term goals were vague, while short term wants and needs were kept silent.

compared with the couples who remained happily married, those who ended up unhappy or divorced had secreted 34 percent higher levels of adrenaline while arguing as newlyweds. These researchers also found that another stress hormone, ACTH, was twice as high in the newlywed wives who ended up in troubled marriages or divorced ten years later compared

3. One Truthful Conversation at a Time

What behavioral changes on both sides would it take for me to feel satisfied in my relationships?