MarriagePath Radio

Most of us are hesitant to share our flaws with others. We know that as some people learn of your imperfections, judgment may ensue. But if you are going to know love in its fullest sense, it requires emotional vulnerability. The good news is that when you share the full you with the right people, you will be positioned to know authentic love.

Something to Think about:

When you reveal only the good parts of you, it implies a passive form of dishonesty. Intimacy is built upon the belief of equality. While differ in our strengths and weaknesses, there is no need to play the game of one-upmanship. As we embrace our humanity in its fullest forms, we are poised to know grace.

Let's Talk:

To you, what are the advantages to being open and vulnerable about your humanity, even if it involves some risk?

Description: What would you think if I suggested that meekness can be a beginning point for power and influence (of a good nature)? Meekness is best described as strength under control, or better yet, it is wisdom in action. Meek people pursue personal goals within the context of goodness and they seek to build community. In this podcast we will identify seven essential ways to put meekness into wise action.

Something to Think about:

• Meek people understand their own basic needs, so they then apply that same understanding toward others.
• Meek people want others' days to be better because of their presence in it.
• Meek people are less concerned about their rights and more concerned about being responsible.

Let's Talk Question: In what ways could you adjust your priorities so you could incorporate more meekness in your relationship style?

Being an accepting person comes with a cost, beginning with the laying down of your ego. Accepting people sidestep the need to impose their own correctness in favor of displaying respect, even when it cuts against their emotional grain. In this episode we will discuss how you can gain influence via the path of self restraint.

• Being accepting can involve a sacrificial attitude.

• Acceptance means you rise above your immediate impulses to live inside a "big picture" mindset.

• Self restraint is a trait that an accepting person is quite familiar with.

In what circumstances do you struggle most to lay aside your ego for the purpose of offering acceptance to another?

When tensions and conflicts arise many people have a tendency to communicate with forcefulness or stubbornness leading the way. Common sense says that there are a variety of ways to look at any issue, so it would be wise to stay away from exaggerated attitudes in favor of modesty. This podcast will explore reasons to communicate in a more modest fashion.

• People who communicate with extreme reactions tend to have a deep history emphasizing all or nothing thinking.

• The more stubborn you are, the less influence you have.

• To stay away from extreme responses to one another, empathy is required.

In your family, what are some examples of you or a family member operating with unnecessary stubbornness? What would be the preferred alternatives?

Most people ending a marriage will state that they saw signs prior to marriage suggesting the relationship was not all it needed to be. In this podcast we will identify twelve qualities that need to be in place so you can move forward in a budding relationship with confidence. By knowing what to look for, your decision to commit to a long term relationship will be built upon more than just raw emotionalism.

• Reflective thinking is a solid indicator that a potential partner is able and willing to explore ways to grow personally.

• Being in love involves much more than feeling wonderful; it has many other dimensions that need to be identified.

• Good relationships don't just happen. They involve much forethought and planning.

What are your top 3 qualities that must be in place in order to know the relationship is built upon a solid foundation?

Some individuals have such a deep history of looking at the negative side of life that they develop a reputation of chronic moodiness. This is a learned pattern, which means it can be unlearned and reversed. In this episode we will examine ways to reverse this tendency so a more upbeat approach toward life can emerge.

• Chronically frustrated people have yet to learn how to manage anger so it can lead to constructive adjustments.

• Rather that playing the inferior-superior game, you can begin relationships with the belief in human equality.

• As you choose to build another person's feeling of significance, your own feeling of significance rises.

Why do you suppose some people actually choose to camp out on the negative side of life? What needs to change so they can see life's positives more clearly?

For a marriage to function at its best, each partner needs to be willing to look out for the other's best interests. As couples operate with a team spirit, they demonstrate love in all sorts of small, but significant gestures. This podcast will identify seven distinct ways that servitude can be illustrated inside a marriage.

• Servitude is not a duty but a privilege.

• Servants understand that the other person has needs requiring coordination inside the relationship.

• Being an effective servant requires you to think from the other person's perspective.

In what ways is your marriage strengthened when you and your partner willingly serve each other?

When laughter is absent from a home, it is usually a sign of trouble. Conversely, when family members can enjoy funny stories or events, many good things can result. Humor has a way of creating bonding and it also diminishes our tendencies toward stress, anger, and tension. In this podcast we will explore the good that can come from this trait.

• As a general rule, when people laugh consistently they are actually less prone to physical disease.

• Humor teaches humility...in a good way.

• Humor allows others to see you as approachable and the result can be stronger relational bonds.

In your home, how does humor make a difference as you and your partner face life's challenges?

Happiness can be experienced in many forms, ranging from inner contentment to hilarious laughter. Getting there is the result of intentional efforts to invest in relationships and in goodness. In this podcast we will highlight multiple ways to make happiness an ongoing part of your life.

• To be happy, you have to adjust your expectations in a realistic direction.

• People who like to serve also have greater episodes of happiness.

• Appreciating simplicity is directly linked to a life of joy.

What are the top three or four things in your life that bring consistent happiness?

Description

Shadow people can be described as those you encounter who are not at the center of your relational world, but who play small roles in your overall life. They might be waitresses, store clerks, or neighborhood acquaintances. Your manner of interaction with shadow people can reveal much about your overall emotional healthiness, and that is what we will explore in this episode.

Something to Think about: Your interactions with shadow people illustrate your overall commitment to kindness and love. As you engage with shadow people you reveal your understanding of human dignity. To be consistently pleasant toward shadow people you must keep your ego in check.

Let's Talk Question: What would be some good examples of the shadow people in your world? How would you describe your overall philosophy in your treatment of these people?