By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD Loving relationships are essential for human well-being and happiness at all ages. In fact, the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives. According to Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, “Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period”. A variety of social connections
Happy Marriage
Great Expectations Make Marriages Flourish
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD Couples get what they expect. One primary difference between couples who make it and those who don’t is that those who stay happy have high expectations for marriage and each other. This may seem a bit counterintuitive. I’m sure you’ve heard many relationship “experts” (or your own mom) say that
Stay Happily Married by Following the “Magic Six Hours” Formula
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD Six hours a week is all it takes to stay happily married. If you follow this Magic Six-Hour formula, you can keep your marriage running smoothly and prevent a gradual growing apart or a dreaded relationship breakdown. Relationship expert John Gottman and his colleagues have determined that for relationships to
When Your Partner Makes Mistakes, Your Attributions Make a Big Difference
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD People in long-term relationships make mistakes. The impact your partner’s mistakes have on your relationship depends largely on how you make sense of why they behave as they did. We call this an “attribution” of cause. And, what you see as the cause when your partner makes mistakes depends mostly
Secrets to Staying Happy ’til Your Silver Anniversary and Beyond
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhDCheers! This month my husband Larry and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Ours is a second marriage for both of us. And, even though the 25th is traditionally considered the silver anniversary, we feel “golden” pretty much every day. Younger couples often tell us that they want to know our
How to Date Your Spouse: 6 Tips for Successful Date Nights
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD Most couples know they are supposed to have a regular “Date Night”. Unfortunately, along the way, they let familiar routines and their life partner/parenting roles overshadow their ongoing need for novel activities and their role as romantic partners. They just can’t seem to have a night out that doesn’t involve
Make SMART Relationship Goals Not New Year’s Resolutions
Relationship-based resolutions will likely fail by February. Create SMART relationship goals instead.
Happy Couples Have Attitude of Gratitude
Adopt an attitude of gratitude. Couples who mutually express gratitude to each other enhance intimacy and bolster their levels of relationship satisfaction.
These 3 R’s Let Your Happy Relationship Bloom Naturally
Spring reminds us to refresh, renew, and improve our relationships. These 3 R's guide the relationship improvement process.
Money Can’t Buy Love, But the Right Gift Can
by Jamie C. Williamson, PhD ‘tis the season. But how do you know the right gift to give your partner? Most gift givers assume that a more expensive present will be more appreciated, yet, receivers don’t appreciate expensive gifts more than other less expensive gifts. And, that goes for gifts of clothes, wine, home
This 1 Simple Act Primes Your Marriage for Romance
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD The secret to long-lasting romance in marriage is simple, inexpensive, and fool proof. You’ve probably figured out that it isn’t a candlelit dinner on your anniversary or the obligatory sex that followed. And, unless you learn this one simple secret it won’t be your long-anticipated romantic get-away either. Events designed
3 Reasons Couples Who Play Together, Stay Together
by Jamie C. Williamson, PhD Married couples who play together, stay together. But that doesn’t mean you should treat your marriage like a game. If you treat your marriage like a game, you’ll get played and lose every time. What this does mean is that couples who “play together” by engaging in fun, novel
4 Habits To Keep Your Marriage Golden Even When You’re Gray
by Jamie C. Williamson, PhD So, you’ve been thinking that if you made it through the seven-year-itch, a mid-life crisis (or two), and your kids’ teenage years, you’d be golden, right? Probably…. but maybe not. Although the divorce rate is declining for couples under 40, the divorce rate is on the rise for older adults.
Want a Long, Happy Marriage? Be Loving AND Stubborn
by Jamie C. Williamson, PhD You might be surprised to learn that stubbornness in marriage is a good thing. And a gift that proves it is even better. Some spouses try to create a happy marriage through grand romantic gestures like sending flowers, planning romantic dinners, or wearing sexy lingerie. While that is a pretty
The Most Important F-Word in Marriage May Surprise You
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD The most commonly thought of F-word is not the one that most often causes marriages to decay. Despite what magazine articles and sensational internet posts might claim, happily married couples do NOT typically have sex every day or even every week. After the newness wears off, most happy couples get
