Blog by Category | Jon Beaty

How Do I Tell My Husband He’s Fat?

Not too many years ago, I was at least 40 pounds overweight. I don’t know if my wife ever thought it, but I know she never said, “You’re fat.” She never told me, “You need to lose weight.” So, what is a wife to do when her husband is fat? Do what my wife did. My wife continued […]

2 Things Every Couple Needs for a Satisfying Marriage

What are the most important qualities for creating a satisfying marriage? When identifying preferred traits in a marriage partner, most American women say they want a spouse who has a steady job. Most American men say they want a spouse who shares similar ideas about having and raising children. This is according to a recent […]

Improve These Personality Traits for a Happier Marriage

The combination of certain personality traits in a married couple predicts their marital satisfaction, according to researchers. Behavioral scientists define personality by a handful of traits called “The Big Five.” These traits are:Openness to new experiencesConscientiousnessExtroversionAgreeablenessNeuroticism The Big Five Personality TestSimple questionnaires, such as UC Berkeley’s The Big Five Inventory, measure to what degree a person possesses […]

What to Do When Your Spouse Criticizes You

Criticism seemed unavoidable in Jeff and Nicole’s marriage. It even crept into discussions about issues that seemed relatively insignificant. Nicole often found almost-empty milk cartons on the shelf of the kitchen refrigerator. “Jeff, is it really that difficult to finish the last few drops of milk and put the carton in recycling?” She knew Jeff put […]

The Best Way to Invest in a Happy Marriage

Few things in life stir up positive and negative emotions as much as the exchanges that occur between a husband and a wife. No one keeps track on a ledger, but those exchanges between spouses always result in deposits in and withdrawals from their individual emotional bank accounts. A happy marriage depends on a couple […]

15 Promises Missing from Your Marriage Vows

On their wedding day, many couples participate in the exchange of marriage vows. This traditional exchange of promises between soon-to-be husband and wife began as early as the sixteenth century. The vows to love and cherish till death do us part appear in Church of England’s first Book of Common Prayer. I admit that I’ve long […]

Emotionally Intelligent Husbands Do This Best

An emotionally intelligent husband knows when to accept influence from his wife. By accepting her influence, he increases the chances that he and his wife will share a long and happy marriage. Emotional intelligence is measured by two components. It begins with a person’s ability to recognize, understand and manage their own emotions. With this foundation, […]

Do This When You’re Focused on Your Spouse’s Negative Behaviors

A husband and wife who focus on each other’s negative behaviors are doing what comes naturally. It’s a valuable survival instinct hardwired into the brain. As good as this negativity bias is for survival, a couple who permits it to operate unchecked becomes dissatisfied with their relationship. They fail to notice or lose sight of […]

It’s Not Always Your Fault When Your Spouse Gets Upset

Sometimes we step into sensitive areas by mistake and our spouse gets upset. We call it “touching a raw nerve” or “pushing a button.” Many marriage counselors refer to it as a “regrettable incident.” Regrettable incidents occur when an otherwise benign action by one spouse triggers a misfire of a negative emotional reaction from the other. […]

5 Communication Mistakes to Avoid in Your Marriage

I got angry with my wife for emptying the dishwasher. Normally, that doesn’t happen. In a few seconds, a misguided comment between a husband and wife can explode into a conflict. One or both are in hurry to end the discussion, they’re tired, or their message gets lost in their inability to use the right words. My […]

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