For many of us, 2012 began with a promise — a promise that this year we will accomplish that which has eluded us. Often it’s the everyday things that prove most difficult — managing your schedule, treating people the way you ought to, and keeping things in perspective when chaos is at hand. The sad truth is that nearly 80 percent of us fell off the resolution bandwagon by Super Bowl Sunday; and by this time next year, a mere five percent of us will have succeeded in reaching our goals.

There are two reasons why we’re so bad at … Read the rest

Conflict is a normal part of two people with different needs, interests, and motivations coming together. It’s how conflict is handled that determines the quality and ultimate success of a relationship.

Researchers at the University of Washington (the same researchers who can predict the future success of a relationship with 93 percent accuracy) have discovered that successful relationships address conflict using a single technique — one that’s so effective at addressing conflict that it’s called a repair.

Repair

A repair is a gesture that shows respect and concern for the other despite disagreement. Repairs take on many forms, but all … Read the rest

 

A new relationship — whether personal or professional — is a lot like buying a new car. Driving it off the lot is pure bliss. As you look around, you can scarcely take it all in. Everything smells, sounds, and looks terrific. You coast through weeks or months — maybe even years — of happy driving before you’re aware of anything that needs fixing. And like a car, when a relationship breaks down, it’s overwhelming; you’re left stuck on the side of the road wondering what went wrong.

A trained eye knows when a car is in trouble. From … Read the rest