Managing relationship conflicts can be tough, especially when arguments and unresolved issues accumulate. The strain of constant fighting is familiar to many couples. While not all problems have solutions, they don't have to severely strain your connection. Discover effective ways to address differences and change how you perceive conflicts.

Attending your first relationship guidance session can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to! Here are 10 tips to help you prepare for your first couples therapy/relationship guidance session.

Much attention is given to sex in our relationship. So we often use sex as the relationship health barometer. Are we having it? Is it good? Are we having it enough? If I don’t want it, is that normal? Then we place values on the answers to these questions - determining and interpreting things about ourselves, our partner and our relationship - based on sex. But here’s the thing, the way we understand sex, is actually not personal.

Routine, security, and stability are all virtues of a long term relationship. The down side of these wonderful gains can sometimes be dullness, numbness, and stagnation. B o r i n g. We believe that long term relationships can be absolutely thrilling, with endless possibilities, adventures, and excitement.

In our relationships we strive for “picture-perfect” balance, harmony. And so we avoid conflict - which, according to all the data and science, is actually our sweet spot for growth as a couple. We reject the notion that conflict is bad, and invite people to step in with curiosity, adaptability, and vulnerability instead.

We’ve inherited so many things from our family which influence our core beliefs, behaviors, and our relationships - big time. But unlike our genes, becoming aware of our core beliefs and how they influence our behavior can help us reflect on whether they serve or limit us. And then we can choose to make a change.

Professionally, we strive for growth and opportunity. We read leadership books and listen to all the podcasts. We hire business coaches, and run side gigs galore. We want to climb the ladder, and we’re willing to learn, work overtime, dedicate our weekends, and prioritize work over our personal lives for the sake of our professional future. But, do we invest as much in our relational future?

Have you ever shared a challenge with your partner and been met with a “don’t worry, you’re great.” While our partner may mean to support us or cheer us up, this response can often end up making us feel alone and unseen. Here’s a Ritual reframe on what actually happens in those moments, and how we can turn them into deeply intimate moments of growth, between you and your partner, and you and you.