We all have our moments of complaining about our partners, but it seems more common to post a meme on social media that's a quick jab at something your partner does or doesn't do!  This isn't helpful and can potentially harm the relationship.

Conflict is normal, even in the healthiest of couples.  But how we manage that conflict is critical.  The masters are quick to engage in repair attempts once a conflict emerges.  

Setting the tone for conflict in a positive way can absolutely make or break the interaction between a couple.  Meredith provides background and practical tips for how to soften your start up when you have conflict with or a complaint about your partner.

Meredith explores a common issue in most relationships - one partner pursues and one partner distances from conflict.

Meredith shares about how relationships can be a wonderful opportunity for connection and also to practice healthy relationship skills like repair attempts and maintaining a 5:1 positive to negative ratio during conflict.

This episode talks about the nuances of having a focus on superficial qualities in a relationship such as placing high importance on physical attraction, specifically related to physical qualities.  Meredith talks about some of the pitfalls of this, research behind it and gives encouragement for diving deeper into the role of attraction in a relationship.

Meredith shares a quick word of encouragement to those who are engaged or about to be engaged to remember that focusing on the relationship is the most important part of engagement, not what size the wedding dress is or how tone arms look in wedding photos.  

Affairs are often much deeper than we realize.  Meredith gives practical tips for ways we can better understand and avoid this as well as hope for those who have experienced this in a relationship.

Meredith shares her own personal experience with making long distance relationship dynamic work with her husband.  Strategies, Gottman tips and some encouragement are shared for those who are curious!

Meredith describes another strength of healthy relationships and that is one of establishing rituals and traditions.  These help us build emotional connection with our partners.