According to the National Science Foundation, people think an average of 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day.

Eighty percent of those thoughts are negative.

And 90% of those thoughts are repetitive.

That’s why author Ted Lowe – the founder and director of MarriedPeople.org, an organization dedicated to strengthening marriages – says one of the best things you can do for your marriage is learn how to change your mind.

Embracing a positive mindset boosts confidence, wards off depression and anxiety, and helps manage stress.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 24, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Fifteen years into their marriage, an otherwise normal lunch date between Carey and Toni Nieuwhof turned into a disastrous argument.

As they remember it now, Carey complained about something, which triggered Toni to shut down, which compelled Carey to persist in his argument, which escalated Toni’s emotions until she exploded in anger. By the end of the lunch, Toni was so frustrated that she threw her wedding ring at him and said, “I don’t want this anymore.”

It’s heartbreaking to see married couples reach a point of desperation and hopelessness.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 18, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Do you get along with your in-laws?

If you catch yourself snickering at that question, who could blame you? In-law jokes (particularly about mothers-in-law) are a mainstay of modern comedy routines and a common stereotype in movies and television shows. But within every joke there is a kernel of truth. And the truth here is that in-law relationships can be difficult.

What’s the best way to work through this delicate area of marriage?

Jean and I don’t have a great deal of experience in this area.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 12, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Researchers say that, on average, a person makes 35,000 decisions a day.

Coffee creamer or black?

Get out of bed now or later?

Scratch our head with our left hand or our right?

Answer our phone or not?

We make so many choices that we often don’t recognize that our ability to choose is even involved.

Like this one: loving our spouse.

We talk about love as if it’s an outside force. We say, “It was love at first sight.” Or we “fell in love.” We chalk up love to chance or chemistry instead of a conscious decision to act toward our spouse in loving ways.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 7, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does your marriage stress you out?

Are you bringing stress into your marriage?

Either way, how do you handle it?

Many couples seek stress relief in non-relational ways that enable them to hide from each other. Drugs and alcohol. Shopping. Gambling. Excessive cleaning. Binge-watching television or social media.

We retreat.

We shut down.

We become silent and non-communicative.

Jesus faced stress. Luke 22:44 says, “Being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Matthew 26:37 says Jesus was “sorrowful and troubled.”

Jesus modeled how to seek stress relief through relationship.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage June 22, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura