Many people assume that healthy relationships are defined by harmony. They imagine strong couples that rarely argue and always seem naturally in sync. Sure, that may sound appealing. But it isn't particularly realistic. Every relationship—romantic, platonic—includes differences in opinions, preferences, needs, and perspectives. Conflict is a normal part of doing life with another person. I’d, in fact, argue that the strength of a relationship is not measured by the absence of

Many couples believe the healthiest relationships are the ones with the fewest arguments. It's an understandable assumption. After all, conflict can be uncomfortable. It can bring up feelings of frustration, disappointment, hurt, and disconnection. Most of us would prefer to avoid those feelings whenever possible. But research on relationships tells a different story. Strong couples don't necessarily argue less than struggling couples. What often sets them apart is their abil

For a long time, traditional ideas about fatherhood followed a fairly narrow script. Fathers were often expected to be providers first. Strong, dependable, hardworking, emotionally steady, and sometimes emotionally distant. In many families, caregiving and emotional connection were viewed as secondary roles or responsibilities that belonged more naturally to mothers. But fatherhood has been evolving for quite some time—and honestly, that’s not a bad thing! Many fathers today

I first read The Gifts of Imperfection several years ago, but recently picked up the updated 10th Anniversary Edition while visiting one of my favorite indie bookstores, Northshire Bookstore. The original edition was fairly slim, so when I saw how much thicker this version was, I was curious about what Brené Brown had added. Let’s dig in. What is this book about? If you’re not familiar with Brené Brown, she is a researcher who studies emotions such as shame, vulnerability, co