Relationship Challenges

The Gottman's research has found that couples with a strong friendship, have a better relationship. Your friendship affects every part of your relationship, including intimacy. This is true for both men and women.

These days people separate the idea of relationship from friendship. This is an interesting idea. When you think about it, don't you have fun with your friends? And, don't you want to have fun in your relationship? Having fun together is important in any relationship, whether you are intimate or not.

When you start to treat your partner like your BFF, you will start to see your relationship change and grow in healthy ways. Take a genuine interest in your partner. Friends stay together during the tough times. This can also be true in a relationship. The best way to improve the intimacy in your relationship is to work on the friendship. Here are five tips to help you do so:

1. Express appreciations about your partner regularly. It's easy to forget this when you have been in a relationship for a while. Write down your appreciations on a piece of paper and stick it on the mirror, text your partner during the day or tell them when you are departing in the morning. An appreciation can be something as simple as 'I appreciate your smile.'
2. Say Thank you regularly. Tell your partner what…

Read more: 5 Tips That Will Help You Rebuild The Friendship In Your Relationship

"If you want to have a harmonious relationship you must learn to communicate and compromise." Milana May

Is it time to bring mystery back into the bedroom?

You may wondering how or when the spark left. It's easy in our fast paced society to put our relationship last. Think back to when you first started dating. You made time for one another and couldn't wait to see one another. Then, came marriage, a house, children and work. Which doesn't leave a lot of time for relationships.

America prides itself on efficiency, we are a goal oriented society. We are raised to believe we are what we make and that our bank account defines us. So, what does this mean, can we ever have enough? I hear this all the time in counseling. 'I wish I had a bigger house, a better car, more clothes or more in my savings account.' I tell my clients you can't always define success by your back account, and believe it or not this can affect what happens in the bedroom.

What this all means, is that we have been socialized to control our sexual urges and our appetite for sex. I know, many of you are thinking, we've rented videos, taken baths together, and have been committed to our weekly date but we still have a dull sex life. Passion…

Read more: 3 Tips That Will Help You Put The Spark Back In Your Relationship

"If you want to have a harmonious relationship you must learn to communicate and compromise." Milana May

Is it time to bring mystery back into the bedroom?

You may wondering how or when the spark left. It's easy in our fast paced society to put our relationship last. Think back to when you first started dating. You made time for one another and couldn't wait to see one another. Then, came marriage, a house, children and work. Which doesn't leave a lot of time for relationships.

America prides itself on efficiency, we are a goal oriented society. We are raised to believe we are what we make and that our bank account defines us. So, what does this mean, can we ever have enough? I hear this all the time in counseling. 'I wish I had a bigger house, a better car, more clothes or more in my savings account.' I tell my clients you can't always define success by your back account, and believe it or not this can affect what happens in the bedroom.

What this all means, is that we have been socialized to control our sexual urges and our appetite for sex. I know, many of you are thinking, we've rented videos, taken baths together, and have been committed to our weekly date but we still have a dull sex life.…

Read more: 3 Tips That Will Put The Spark Back In Your Relationship

Finding the right person can be difficult, but once it happens you've got to deal with the task of maintenance. This means keeping things fresh and finding time to spend with one another. This means prioritizing your relationship. When a couple enters a relationship, it's on the top of the list. This means having fun together. As time goes on, this changes. Work, the house and the children take priority. Having fun together is essential in a relationship. The two go together. If you aren't having fun together, then you are slowly killing your relationship. Here are ten tips to help you put fun back at the top of the list in your relationship:

Read more: Laughing With Your Partner (Really) Is The Best Medicine