Relationships Archives

Why Forcing Opinions on Others Only Destroys Friendships

What happens when you force an opinion on other people? Does everyone have to agree on the same thing in a group? Brené Brown says that the instinct to find like-minded people becomes counterproductive when everyone must agree on everything. This type of thinking leads to unnecessary policing and self-monitoring to make sure no one’s stepping out of alignment with the group. Continue reading to further learn why forcing opinions on others hurts friend groups.

How to Connect With Other People: 4 Strategies to Try

Do you have a hard time sustaining relationships? What are ways to make long-lasting connections? In Braving the Wilderness, Brené Brown provides advice for finding true belonging, which means making friends while also staying true to yourself. She covers four strategies that range from resolving conflicts with curiosity to building trust in yourself and others. Let’s unpack how to connect with other people using her four strategies.

Shame and Abuse: How to Deal With the Repeating Cycle

How are shame and abuse linked? Can you learn how to deal with shame? Shame and abuse are tied together because victims of abuse often feel shame which contributes to the belief that they deserve the abuse. When someone feels this way and feels they deserve the abuse, it becomes much harder for them to leave the situation. Learn more about where shame originates and how to deal with it.

Sadhguru: Grief Is a Valuable Opportunity to Grow

Are you struggling with loss? Do you feel trapped in pain and wonder whether there’s a way out? According to Sadhguru, grief is a gift. In his book Death: An Inside Story, he shares practical advice for people who are still alive but have been impacted by death, explaining how to overcome painful feelings of grief after someone close to you has died. Continue reading to learn Sadhguru’s view of grief that might cause you to look at death and other losses in a new light.

CPTSD and Relationships: Recovering Socially From Abuse

Why is it hard for victims of abuse to form connections, and how can they recover? How does complex PTSD (CPTSD) influence relationships? Many people struggle with CPTSD, and relationships are hard for those who do. Because abuse has such an effect on relationships, it takes time and effort for survivors to learn to form healthy friendships. Read on for more on how trauma survivors can heal and develop healthy connections with new people.

The Benefits of Community and How to Build Strong Relationships

Three smiling friends in a mountain environment reaping the benefits of community.

What are the benefits of community? How can building relationships improve your health and well-being? The benefits of community include reducing anxiety and depression and even lowering the risk of heart disease. Understanding these benefits as well as strategies for building relationships can help you improve both your mental and physical health. Continue reading to learn how to build community and how having community can benefit you.

Barbra Streisand’s Relationships: Gould, Brolin, & Those in Between

A woman and six men behind her on a stage in the lights.

What do Barbra Streisand and Joan Collins have in common? What actor and singer wrote a song about Streisand more than 20 years after they broke up? Although she’s played countless romantic leads on stage and screen, Barbra Streisand’s relationships in real life have been difficult, at least until her current marriage. She writes about her two marriages and a few other love interests in her memoir My Name Is Barbra. Read more to learn about husbands Elliott Gould and James Brolin and a couple of relationships in between these marriages.

How Dopamine Affects Behavior: Romance and Creativity

A lesbian couple smiling, showing how dopamine affects behavior.

How can we understand how dopamine affects behavior? Can the amount of dopamine you have influence your relationships and beliefs? Dopamine affects behavior by making us look forward to the future and anticipate future happiness. A look at how this works can tell you a lot about where certain behaviors come from. Read here to see how dopamine levels can affect everything from romantic relationships to political beliefs.

How to Evaluate Your Relationships to Improve or End Them

A couple talking at a restaurant and evaluating their relationship.

Are your relationships getting in the way of your self-improvement? How do you evaluate your relationships? Sarah Knight argues that as an adult, you have a choice about who you spend your time with. She explains that in every relationship, you have three choices for how to move forward: Maintain the relationship, improve it, or end it. Continue reading to decide what to do with the relationships in your life.

8 Boundaries Exercises for Groups: Find Freedom in Drawing a Line

Do you tend to be a doormat? Do you make sacrifices you shouldn’t? Do you let people in where they don’t belong? When we’re not skilled in setting and enforcing boundaries, we’re more vulnerable to unhealthy relationships, mixed-up priorities, and burnout. We’ve put together several boundaries exercises for groups based on concepts from Henry Cloud, Nedra Glover Tawwab, Rachel Hollis, and others. Keep reading to get started on these exercises that can help you move toward a more peaceful, balanced life.