CNN shows us how happiness promotes success and how daily habits promote happiness. Shawn Achor offers these five tips for transforming your attitude (excerpt): • Write down three new things you are grateful for each day; • Write for two…
Top tips for taking care of each other in stressful times
USA Today addresses how stress affects relationships, especially honeymooners and the first five years of marriage. Sharon Jayson includes this sidebar of 5 tips for handling stress and having a successful marriage (excerpt): Don’t let stress sabotage your relationship, says…
Meaning, purpose, happiness and generosity: The health of marriage and family life in America
The States of Our Unions report, by the National Marriage Project, delves into the health of marriage in America. The Executive Summary includes remarks on being a parent and navigating the marital relationship (excerpt): In this report, we find that…
Flirting with an apology
USA Today’s Ask Stacy reminds us of the three elements of a true apology: “sorry,” responsibility for the choice taken, and promise for the future. Stacy Kaiser writes (excerpt): A true apology should consist of three elements: taking responsibility for…
Why your kids should be happy
CNN and Parenting.com give us the “Top 10 Parenting Fails of 2011.” If you didn’t make the list, rejoice! Sasha Emmons of Parenting.com includes items on: Mom Uses Hot Sauce as Punishment Moms Selling Babies Girl Brings Dad’s Cocaine to…
The power of positivity: Gottman says awareness, tolerance, understanding, non-defensive listening, and empathy
CNN includes tips on what to do if you want more sex in your life. It’s the same secret to a lasting relationship and marriage: be nice. Ian Kerner, the Good in Bed counselor, quotes Emily Nagoski, the self-proclaimed Sex…
Trying to control your ex versus just smiling
The Love and Logic newsletter encourages parents to avoid the tendency of kids to throw one parent’s house rules against the other. L&L also reassures us that children can have two homes and still grow into healthy adults. Dr. Charles…
Starting happy, ending divorced: The power of negativity
The Journal of Family Psychology tackles the mystery of “why even satisfied newlyweds eventually go on to divorce.” The research abstract for Justin Lavner and Thomas Bradbury’s article states (excerpt): Divorcing couples displayed more negative communication, emotion, and social support…
The search for the right therapist
The Wall Street Journal explains the challenges in finding the right patient therapist fit and how those challenges can be overcome by asking three questions: How would you propose treating me? How long do you think it would take? How…
Predicting good psychological outcomes: How to make it through your divorce
USA Today and Health Day reveal the secret to getting through a divorce and coming out okay: self-compassion. Robert Preidt writes (excerpt): They [the University of Arizona researchers] explained that self-compassion — a combination of kindness toward oneself, recognition of…
Annulling a marriage because of “fraud”
FindLaw shows the traditional and the modern approaches to annulments based on allegations of fraud. Joanna L. Grossman writes (excerpt): In Part One of this series, I discussed the traditional approach to defining fraud as a ground for annulment, which…
Setting aside the ‘I want to win’ mentality in divorce
The National Post highlights Ontario’s move toward mandatory information sessions promoting divorce mediation. Kathryn Blaze Carlson writes (excerpt): Had Scott McLarty and his then-wife been forced to consider divorce mediation as an alternative to litigation, he might have been spared…
Is sexting emotional infidelity?
CNN reminds us, in light of the Congressman Anthony Wiener scandal, what makes an emotional affair. Ian Kerner writes (excerpt): In her seminal book on emotional infidelity, “Not Just Friends,” the late psychotherapist Shirley Glass implores readers to “maintain appropriate…
Conflicting perceptions and, yet, collaboration
“Everything you can imagine is real.”–Pablo Picasso You’ve heard the saying: Perception is reality. So how can we collaborate through divorce negotiations to a fair resolution when you and your spouse start with such vastly different sets of perceptions? As…
How to tell a story to persuade
Psychology Today reveals how storytelling helps persuasion. Peter Guber writes (excerpt): [T]elling purposeful stories is certainly the most efficient means of persuasion in everyday life, the most effective way of translating ideas into action . . . . . .…
First things first: What to do when you learn your spouse is having an affair
CNN provides a number of insights into infidelity (of course in the wake of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver), and what comes next. There also are 3 tips for when you discover an affair. Amy Wilson writes (excerpt): [Dr. Steve…
To fault or to no-fault: That is the question
The New York Times covers the topic of divorce lawyers discovering evidence from social networking sites. Included is a comment about the role of fault in a no-fault divorce. Nadine Brozan writes (excerpt): “No-fault does not mean that fault is…
Identifying a need: Persuasion Strategy
The Financial Post offers four steps to effective persuasion focused on identifying a problem facing the other person that you can help solve. Sandra Folk writes (excerpt): Clearly identify your goal. . . . Determine your approach. [reason, logic, and…
Focusing on solutions: Saving money with divorce mediation and collaborative divorce
CBS Money Watch offers Jane Bryant Quinn’s list of “10 Steps to Avoid Losing Your Shirt in a Divorce.” Jane Bryant Quinn writes (excerpt): 10. Put $$$ in your pocket by avoiding a battle with your spouse. In hard times,…
Tips on how to give a great speech or presentation
BNET highlights 5 tips for improving public speaking from a Harvard Business Review blog entry by Dan Pallotta (who offers 8 more tips). Dave Johnson writes (excerpt): Know the goal of the speech. . . . . . . Memorize…