Articles for Adults
How to Improve Emotional Intelligence — the Skill Behind It Is Emotional Literacy How to Improve Emotional Intelligence (the Gottman Way)
Most advice on how to improve emotional intelligence starts by telling you to be more empathetic, more self-aware, more regulated — worthy goals, but hard to act on directly. There is an earlier, more practical skill underneath all of them, and there is a name for it: emotional literacy. It is the ability to notice what you feel, find the
What It Means in Family and Marriage
There is a particular silence to estrangement. Not the noise of a fight — a fight, at least, means someone is still trying — but the quiet of a phone you no longer pick up, a name you scroll past, a chair at the table no one mentions is empty. Searching the estranged meaning usually indicates you might be trying
What Is Reactive Abuse…And Can It Be Prevented?
You’ve seen the headlines and plot lines for every courtroom drama and true crime podcast: “Wife Finally Snaps!” “Husband Loses Control!” “Honeymoon Ends Early with Attempted Murder.” The story is usually told the same way. It focuses on the moment of the violence—because that’s what captures attention. Like slowing down to look at a traffic accident, we’re drawn to the
Why Your Family of Origin Still Controls Your Emotions (and What to Do About It)
It’s a common assumption that once we move out, build a career, or start our own families, we have finally “grown up” and left the past behind. Yet, for many, an unexpected comment from a partner or a specific tone of voice from a friend or co-worker can instantly transport them back to the feeling of being a vulnerable child.
Is Watching Pornography Grounds for Divorce?
Alarmingly, a 2024 Barna Group study discovered that 78 percent of U.S. men (which included 75 percent of Christian men) consume pornography to some extent. Additionally, 44 percent of women watch porn. Pornography is no longer something done in secret or by a few. Now it is something commonly consumed by both men and women in our culture. Statistically, Christians
Pride, Partnership, and the Need for Emotional Refuge
When Gottman therapists assess relationship health, we are looking for three things above all else: the presence of trust, the presence of commitment, and the absence of contempt. Most articles you’ll read will help you focus on how to strengthen your relationship by focusing your energy on working on these three pillars: especially contempt since research has shown it’s one
A Coaching Niche Defined by the Way You Work | by Dr. Evelyn Fendler-Lee ACC | The Launchpad
Many coaches are told to define their niche by choosing a target audience, a problem and a promised transformation. But for coaches whose work is deeply process-oriented, this advice can feel too external, or simply not quite true. When I recently became certified as an ICF coach, I was inspired to further develop my coaching business. One question became central:
5 Ways to Grow Christian Friendships
Fostering friendships takes time, energy, and communication. As adults, it can be difficult to build friendships because many individuals already have established friend groups. If you are someone who is trying to grow your friendships, know that you will need patience. True, genuine friends are hard to find, but they are out there. The Lord will help you in this
The Cellular Benefits of Healthy Relationships
I recently had the pleasure of attending a workshop at my local gym/wellness center by Dr. Molly Maloof; a physician, author, and longevity expert specializing in personalized medicine, healthspan optimization, and the science of human connection. She spoke about the social drivers of cellular damage as well as how healthy relationships actually heal the body. We cannot underestimate the interconnection