Coping with Critics

Whether criticism is intended to be helpful or harmful, you can use it positively.

No one likes to be criticized, fairly or not. It’s always difficult to deal with, and it can hurt. Because I’m a writer of books and columns, and because I’ve lectured, appeared on radio and TV, I am sometimes recognized in public. I’m glad I’m not more recognizable, for along with the lovely feedback, gratitude and complements I get from many people, others feel compelled to criticize, often in a mean way, and often without having even read whatever book or column they’re criticizing.

Helpful Ways To Meet Your Partner's Needs [EXPERT]

If you find your relationship is drifting apart, then here is what you can do about it!

If you find your relationship is drifting apart, then the good news is you can do something about it. Begin by putting yourself into a loving space and then apply the following: What men are looking for is the Three A's: Appreciate, Acknowledge and Adore

Living With The 'Grass Is Always Greener' Syndrome? [EXPERT]

Are you in a loving relationship but can't stop wondering if there's something better out there?

When my grandparents got married in the 1930s, I’m quite certain neither one of them had the kind of engagement anxiety I see among people today. My grandmother did experience grief about leaving her mother and two sisters. The difficult feelings were displaced onto her wedding dress and veil (a mosquito net so an understandable disappointment on her part!), but she didn’t spend a moment wondering if she was making the best possible choice or if she loved my grandfather enough, if he was her soul mate or any of the other anxiety-based questions that wreak havoc on my clients’ minds.

The Easiest & Best Valentine's Day Gift Ever [EXPERT]

Free, ecological, sexy, romantic always appreciated and, no, it's not what you think

You've read all the articles, watched all the videos, heard all the love songs and listened to all the webinars. You've racked your brain or searched on google for your favorite love quote from Shakespeare and you're still stuck on what to give to Mr Wonderful or even Mr Potentially Wonderful for Valentine's Day. Here is the ultimate perfect gift and all it takes is some time and thought. Well, all great gifts take that, I know, and we all seem to be short on time. Gratitude, Baby.

The Power Of Appreciation [EXPERT]

The secret to injecting some quick positive energy into any relationship: Appreciation Loops.

Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds. ~ William Shakespeare First the science of appreciation: John M. Gottman, PhD, the country’s foremost relationship expert, found that what set apart marriages that succeeded (as opposed to the 67% of first marriages that ended in divorce) was a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions. He found that even the smallest gestures of appreciation counted—a smile, a pat, a “thank you.” This magic ratio isn’t confined to marriage.

How To Read Your Partner's Mind [EXPERT]

Is it really mind reading or just a simple pattern of affection?

It always seems like one person wants their partner to have the ability to read their mind. This is what they tell me in my office : "He should KNOW what I like/want/need without me having to tell him. If I have to tell him what I want, well, then it doesn't mean as much when he gives it to me." The funny thing is that some couples seem to be very good at mind reading. But are they really?

forgive me — Appreciate every aspect of the person you love!

Can You Live With Your Partner's Quirks? [EXPERT]

Gratitude is vital to a relationship or marriage, even if they are annoying at times ...

This is the time of year when many of us are thinking a lot about gratitude. We gather together with family and friends and we give thanks for all of the blessings in our lives. Do you include your partner among that which you are grateful?

What A Woman Wants

Women want men to know what they want, but men aren’t always sure that women know what they want!

Most men are confused about what a woman really wants; I know I am. We can assume that it’s the diamond ring or the nice house in the nice neighborhood or making sure the family’s needs are met or being a good father or completing the honey-do list, etc. These things (and so many more!) are, in my opinion, the basics of what a woman deserves.

3 Phrases That Make Men More Attentive

A little bit of appreciation goes a long way.

Every so often, when I write articles or posts about pleasing a man, I get lots of flak, but there is a huge difference between building up the person you love and being a doormat. Women who refuse to use the simple phrases I'm about to share with you for fear of being subservient to their man will either end up alone (because the man left or never even committed in the first place) or miserable (because if he does stay, he's a spineless pushover in need of a mega injection of self-esteem) or he'll ignore them.

3 Secrets to a Long, Happy Marriage

Couple celebrates 80 years of marriage. What's their secret?

“Couple Celebrates 80 Years of Marriage!” Just a sensational headline? Incredibly, no! The latest in a number of marriages highlighted in the news over the past year tell the remarkable story of Mitchell and Mattie Atkins of West Philadelphia. Married on January 14th, 1930, they were honored recently by family and friends at an anniversary party celebrating an incredibly rare 80 years together.

Stop Blaming Others: The Power Of Owning Our Imperfections

YourTango Experts help us identify, accept and move beyond the flaws that hold us back from love.

Do you turn into a shrew when you get stressed out or unnecessarily panic in a crisis? It's OK; no one is perfect—we all have our little idiosyncrasies, quirks, or bad habits that we'd rather repress than own. But in order to have better relationships with ourselves and our partners, it's important to embrace these individual flaws or "shadows," and move from living in a mode of denial and self-criticism to one that's more loving.