The Empowered Wife Podcast: Marriage Help with Laura Doyle

If you're asking yourself what cheating is, that means you're already between a rock and a hard place trying to figure out what to do. Like, what if he's sending inappropriate flirty messages to his ex from high school but you know he hasn't seen her in person? Or he's texting a female colleague all the time and won't show you his phone but says nothing is going on? What if you overhear him saying he has feelings for someone else? Or you find out he's got an online dating profile? It sure feels icky to know he's having intimate conversations with a woman who isn't you. Of course you want him to stop before he crosses the line, which brings up some very tough questions: How should you react? Does this mean your husband can't be faithful? Does it mean he's going to leave you? Can you even repair things from here, or is your marriage doomed to be another divorce statistic? Should you give him an ultimatum that you'll divorce unless he stops? Or should you try to be understanding but insist on marriage counseling? On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we're talking about what cheating is in a relationship.

To say my guest Brenda was disillusioned about marriage is an understatement. She was resentful about always having to be the responsible one and questioning whether she'd made a good decision to marry her husband in the first place. But then she tried an experiment and was amazed that it led to immediate closeness, connection and the realization that she has a good man. Today she says she has the true partnership she always wanted. She's going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.

The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to some familiar tripe meant to help a woman who's anguished about her husband not coming to bed at the same time as her.

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Everybody knows there are some things you can't just forgive in marriage. Like abuse–physical, emotional or verbal. It's terrible. Two is being cheated on. Whether he's going to prostitutes or has another woman, it makes you feel like a doormat and a fool. It's awful. And three is being with an addict who abuses drugs or alcohol. That's so unpredictable you never know what might happen, which is a painful way to live. Logically speaking, you can't just forgive and carry on with the status quo in those situations. You can either choose endless suffering in your marriage, option A. Or you can give up on your dreams of a lasting, happy marriage and tear apart your family, option B. What if there's a third option? On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we're talking about what really works with the big, stubborn, scary problems in a marriage.

My guest Sam was burned out in her marriage and her life. She was doing everything she could for her husband, but she really just wanted to run away. Her daughter even told her to just leave! Instead she started two new habits that turned out to be life changing, and today her marriage is peaceful, joyful, intimate and vulnerable. Her husband sends her long-stem roses at work. She's going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too!

This week's Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an article about how to get your husband's attention without begging for it, and it's a great way to make yourself seem desperate and insecure.

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

When your marriage is falling apart, it can be pretty hard to know exactly what to do next, except for going to marriage counseling. Everyone knows that's what you're supposed to do if your marriage is falling apart, only it didn't work for my husband and me–or for thousands of students on the Laura Doyle campus either. So what can you do to fix your marriage if it's gotten dull and you want it to be shiny again? Or if it's got serious problems that you feel overwhelmed about? On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, you'll discover 7 resources for fixing your marriage.

My guest Christina's marriage was filled with explosive rage, cold wars and fights about everything: parenting, money, time, housework, feeling alone and unloved. They were on the brink of divorce. But she learned a secret that seemed too good to be true, and today her marriage is filled with slow dances, companionable silence and peace. She feels cherished beyond what she ever could have imagined. She's going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too!

And, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a saying that's meant to be funny but hit too close to home for one student. And for me too!

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

We all want to feel seen, heard and understood. If you're not feeling understood, it's like you're missing a nutrient in your diet, and you start to feel malnourished. I remember feeling this way when I'd listen to my husband talk endlessly about something he was interested in and then as soon as I brought up something I was interested in, he'd interrupt me. Harrumph! If he just doesn't seem to get you or care about what you want, it hurts! In today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I'm revealing what to do when your husband doesn't understand you.

My guest Charlotte says there was no trust or connection in her marriage. With nothing in common, she felt like she'd married the wrong person–and a liar too. But when she took a different approach, they became closer and closer. She says they have a bright future together and that she respects her husband now, not just because she's supposed to but because she feels it.

Plus, the Worst Relationship Advice of the Week is about what I should have said years ago when my husband was avoiding me. It's not only ineffective, it's also insulting.

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

One of the worst feelings is when you're not getting your husband's love and attention. And, to make things worse, he's giving it to other women. Like when his voice gets warm and happy when talking to the kids' teachers or a co-worker. So what should you do? How do you tell him that he's being inappropriate and to stop embarrassing you? Especially if you already told him and he's acting like it's no big deal even though it's hurting you? You don't deserve that. In today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I'm revealing 3 ways to respond when your husband is being nicer to other women than he is to you.

My guest Jeanne's husband was the controlling one in their marriage. In fact, things were so bad between them that their son was scared they would divorce, and Jeanne herself thought her husband would leave. But she made a few changes to the way she showed up in her marriage. Today, Jeanne says she and her husband are happy, respectful, and they like to hang out together. They have a peaceful and loving home. She's going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.

Plus, as always, I reveal this week's worst relationship advice. It starts with a cute story…but is totally false!

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

How do you save your marriage when you are the only one trying?

It's frustrating when you know your marriage is broken and yet your husband won't do anything about it. He won't read a marriage book, won't go to counseling, won't even have a conversation about it! It can make you crazy. I mean why even try if he's not going to do anything! I know you would much rather saving your marriage be a team effort. I remember feeling this way early on in my marriage. I was dreadfully unhappy and thought divorce would solve all my problems. But as a last resort, I decided to try out some ideas from wives with happy marriages. I was out of options, so why not? These ideas changed everything…and I started to notice that maybe I was part of the problem. Sure, I was the only one trying to save my marriage—but I had been doing all the wrong things. I don't want that to be you! That's why on today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, I'm revealing my top 3 strategies to save your marriage when you're the only one trying.

My guest Liliana and her husband tried to fight quietly but sometimes they spiraled out of control. This was affecting the kids, who were drifting. She was terrified that they would divorce or separate and she'd have to go back to her parents, who always told her her husband would eventually do this to her! But then Liliana did something radical and she has something she's never had before: Her relationship feels easy! She's going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.

The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a columnist's response to relationship advice (it's shocking!).

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

If you're thinking of leaving your relationship, it's because you're feeling lonely, hurt and hopeless about it ever getting better. I still remember how terrible that felt and how much relief I felt thinking about escaping my marriage for that very reason. That pain was real! The part that wasn't so real was my fantasy that leaving the relationship was going to fix my problems and make me feel better. The illusion, which I was completely convinced was the truth, was that my husband was the source of the problems that hurt me so much. But the reality, I now know, was that most of my suffering was because of a lack of training and support in practicing the Six Intimacy Skills™ and not because of a terrible, incorrigible husband. Back then, I would have sworn that it was all his fault and that he was never going to change. So my options were to leave or continue to suffer forever–and let's not forget–ever. On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we're talking about when to leave a relationship.

My guest Julie went to their last couple's counseling appointment by herself because her husband wouldn't go. She was living with constant cold wars and wondering whether he was a gaming addict or depressed. But then the marriage counselor recommended a book, and today Julie says her marriage is such a safe place and she feels like a new woman who is happy and hopeful. She's so grateful for her patient, loyal, honest, fun husband. She's going to tell us what she did so you can do it too.

The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a new Netflix show about getting married, and the title alone made me spit out my tea!

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

When your husband is harsh, thoughtless or downright mean, of course you want him to stop. If you're anything like I was, you want him to feel embarrassed or ashamed so he won't do that again! And since he promised to love you in front of God and everybody, it stands to reason that letting him know how much he hurt you should be very persuasive in getting him to be more gentle, thoughtful and kind. But if you've ever had the experience of your husband not even listening when you're telling him how hurt you are or just telling you to stop being upset, it's so frustrating! You can end up even more hurt than you were to begin with. On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we're talking about how to tell someone they hurt you while teaching him how to treat you.

My guest Noelle felt completely ignored by her husband, who talked to the dog instead of her at dinner. He would laugh and laugh with their son but not with her. Now her husband is so attentive to her! He takes her out for brunch and is giving her a new kitchen. Then there was the very special moment she knew that the 6 Intimacy Skills™ were working for her. She's going to share how she got there so you can do it too.

The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to a book that may be meant to help address verbal abuse in marriage but goes about it in all the wrong ways.

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

As a listener of The Empowered Wife Podcast, you may have found yourself feeling hopeful that you could make your marriage last and thrive, like you hear every week from the women who share their stories. Maybe you got inspired to experiment with the Six Intimacy Skills™. But maybe it just didn't go over well. Maybe your husband didn't even respond when you apologized. Or he told you to stop with the gratitude because he doesn't need that. Or maybe you're working hard to practice the Intimacy Skills and he won't even talk to you. Or he's announced he's moving out or that he wants a divorce. It's so demoralizing and unfair. You might conclude that your situation is different, or too far gone, and the Intimacy Skills just won't work for you! And because you've heard so many success stories here, you feel like the only woman this isn't working for, which is awful. It's scary and painful to feel all alone and hopeless like that. It's especially tragic because you're not alone at all. It's not uncommon for students and even our coaches to feel like the Skills just aren't working for them. No kidding. But that doesn't mean your situation is hopeless. On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we're talking about when the Intimacy Skills don't work for you.

My guest Marla's home was full of fights that turned violent, and their children were suffering. Her husband avoided her then said he wanted to separate and live alone abroad. Marla made a decision to do a few things differently in her marriage, and today she says it's very respectful and her husband is no longer planning to leave. He cleans the kitchen every day before she comes home and hangs out in the living room to talk to her. She's going to tell us what she did so you can do it too!

The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an answer to the question "My Husband Won't Spend Time With Me—What Should I Do?" It's actually what you should do if you want him to leave tire marks in the driveway.

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

If your husband cheated and left you, it's one of the most heart-wrenching things anyone can go through. When the man who vowed to love you for better or worse betrays you, it affects your self-esteem, your health, your family, every aspect of your life. No one deserves to be treated that way. A lot of people will tell you it's time to give up on your marriage. But if you're reading this, there must be some part of you that still wants to make it work. The question is: How are you supposed to do that, especially if your husband is living with another woman? Or maybe he's saying he is done, he's not in love with you anymore and there's no changing his mind. It's enough to make anyone feel hopeless and ready to give up. Kudos to you for not giving up. Because as the wife, the keeper of your relationship, you have enormous power to turn things around, in my experience. On today's episode of The Empowered Wife Podcast, we're talking about why husbands come back after leaving for another woman.

My guest Julie's husband filed for divorce twice, and their marriage had little intimacy physically or emotionally. The whole thing seemed hopeless. But today her marriage is a delight because he dotes on her, they laugh together, and there's a lot of intimacy between them. She's going to tell us how she did it so you can do it too.

The Worst Relationship Advice of the Week Award goes to an article that promises "The Secret to Stopping Housework-Related Resentment" but actually just says the same old same old tired thing that you and I already tried and never, ever worked.

Download the FREE Adored Wife Roadmap now and start transforming your relationship today! Click here: lauradoyle.org/roadmap

Here's what you'll get:

• 6 SIMPLE steps to bring back playfulness, passion, and connection to your marriage.

• The 3 COMMON mistakes wives make when trying to fix things (and how to avoid them!).

• A clear, actionable plan to create the joyful, loving marriage you deserve.

Don't wait—your playful, passionate marriage is just one click away.

Get started now: lauradoyle.org/roadmap