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
Articles with the Tag happy marriage
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
Make SMART Relationship Goals Not New Year’s Resolutions
Relationship-based resolutions will likely fail by February. Create SMART relationship goals instead.
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.
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
Secret to Romance in Marriage Will Surprise You
By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD The secret to long-lasting romance in marriage is surprisingly simple, inexpensive, and fool proof. It isn’t a “romantic” candlelit dinner on Valentine’s Day. And, unless you learn this simple secret and get primed for romance soon, it won’t be your Spring Break get-away to the beach (or the mountains), either.
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. Some spouses try to create a happy marriage through grand romantic gestures like sending flowers, planning romantic dinners, champagne at sunset, or wearing sexy lingerie. Special plans like these do go a long way toward creating
